“Lickin’
the Skillet”
This poem is from Ed Keenan,
author & cowboy poet
Those who have read my cowboy poetry have become acquainted with the
fact that “Gabby”, the chuck-wagon cook gets mentioned in the story
lines numerous times. He is an on-going character in the poems
involving a cowboy’s life and lore.
“Lickin’ The Skillet” is about a bunch of griping cowboys and “Gabby”
runnin’ out of grub to feed his outfit, as the long cattle drive nears
its end toward the stockyard. Gabby is scraping the bottom of the
barrel, so he ain’t in no mood to be messed with. He’s, coming up with
colorful recipes made out of slim pickins’, but that don’t stop the
tired, dirty and hungry cowboys from belly-achin’.
Lickin’ the Skillet
Now Ol’ Gabby our chuck wagon cook
He packs up his grub and stool
Loadin’ trail supplies he ties them down
On his pack horse or his mule
Such things as rifle shells and extra socks
And some extra staple wires
A big ‘ol gunnysack of pinto beans
And Texas fencin’ pliers
On the wagon goes his four Dutch ovens
And plenty of lard and bacon
A large coffee pot and black iron skillet
And some metal rods for stakin’
For settin’ up camp with hook and gaunch
And a few boxes of kitchen matches
Fillin’ his chuck box with lots of jerky
He twists tight the wooden latches
If this outfit runs the fat off the herd
It’ll be hard to make a profit
But the stockyard price is by the head
So we’ll see what’s in our pocket
When the wagon chuck starts runnin’ low
It’s down to jerk and clabber
Or some hot bean soup with boiled beans
And lots’a cowboy gripe’n blabber
When yer’ big guts start eatin’ the little ones
A’ ridin’ drag and eatin’ dust
Then yer’ stomach thinks yer’ throat is cut
So you pray this outfit don’t go bust
But growin’ hair on his ears like a lynx cat
Ol’ Gabby is a prickly pear
So nary a word about his cactus potage
Not even on a runnin’ dare
About two days out from the stockyard
It’s dish-rag soup and sour millet
The hands are tired of livin’ on promises
‘Cause it’s down to lickin’ the skillet
Ed
Keenan © 2005
Ed
Keenan, cowboy poet and author of Cow Chip
Poetry--Lies, Lingo & Lore, writes nature and
birding articles, historic vignettes, Dutch Oven
Cooking recipes and poetry. For more about Ed,
