“Lickin’ the Skillet”
 

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

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