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"X" #6664015
11/12/19 07:38 PM
11/12/19 07:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
G

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
He ain't got much but traps and such, to his name I doubt there's a dime.
He's in from the hills among the frills for only the briefest time.
I see him here but once a year, when he barters all his hides,
Then he's gone back out, I have no doubt. Back over the great divide.

I happen to know this man, although, I don't know where his camp.
But he pays his way and I would say he's an honest sort of scamp.
His name he simply signs an "X", but I think that I know better.
For once did he (I happened to see), was reciting verse and letter.

It was Will Shakespeare or something near, that was his choice oration.
Though sure I'm not, I 'spect he's got, more than a tad's education.
But I can't blame his lack of fame, I must admire the man.
He's got a good life with gun and knife where he lives by his own hand.

His fur is prime and every time he brings it in to sell,
The trader will grin and stroke his chin, and sit to chat a spell.
But X don't like to sit and strike up conversation for too long.
It appears to me he'd rather be hearing the lone wolf's song.

He traps somewhere just north a hair of the Yukon it is said
Though no one knows precisely those trails he's undoubtedly tread.
I speculate its part of the state where greenhorns fear to go.
So far back there's nary a track of another man in the snow.

He carries a pack upon his back; his stride is sure but slow.
He drags a sled with food and bed, behind him in the snow.
If I were to gauge his roundabout age, I guess I'd probably score
Him seventy year, or somewhere near; He ain't a pup no more.

I 'spect one year he'll not appear and our memories soon will fold.
There never was this man, because, he didn't fit the mold.
The mold most had fits good and bad, they'll say he lost his mind.
He just didn't fit 'cause he cared not a whit, for others of his kind.

Jack


Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #6664082
11/12/19 08:39 PM
11/12/19 08:39 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 585
pa.
J
jarentz Offline
trapper
jarentz  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 585
pa.
very nice!


jarentz
Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #6677611
11/27/19 10:54 PM
11/27/19 10:54 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 645
N/E Il. NOT Chicago!!
S
squacks Offline
trapper
squacks  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 645
N/E Il. NOT Chicago!!
I think your poem would resonate with most serious long time trappers. We are not like most folks. We have a little "x" in us. You know him well.

Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7076461
12/06/20 01:30 PM
12/06/20 01:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
G

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
jarentz and squacks - much appreciate the comments, you two.

Jack


Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7077578
12/07/20 04:02 AM
12/07/20 04:02 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline
"Minka"
James  Offline
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Very nice poem and story of a man educated in nature. My only comment is the rhymes look kind of busy to me. This is subjective, but you might try writing the lines thus:

He ain't got much but traps and such,
To his name I doubt there's a dime.
He's in from the hills among the frills,
For only the briefest time.

I see him here but once a year,
When he barters all his hides,
Then he's gone back out, I have no doubt.
Back over the great divide.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7153438
01/25/21 07:47 AM
01/25/21 07:47 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715
Eastern Shore of Maryland
HobbieTrapper Offline
"Chippendale Trapper"
HobbieTrapper  Offline
"Chippendale Trapper"

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Like a painting!

You’re the Bob Ross of poems Jack!


-Goofy-
Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7378439
10/13/21 07:07 PM
10/13/21 07:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
O
Osky Offline
trapper
Osky  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
It has a nice gait Jack, well done.
It reminds me very much of a trapper/recluse who lived on the shores of a large lake up near the Territories most all his life. Swede or Norwegian. His life was traveling around the lake with his dogs staying in tipi type huts he made. Came in to a fishing lodge on the lake but every few years. Fisherman would spot him from time to time. I knew someone who fished up there and had seen him along a shore. Years after I read about how they found him dead one spring in one of his huts.

Good poem.

Osky


"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it"

Jabless in Minnesota

www.SureDockusa.com
Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7378809
10/14/21 08:32 AM
10/14/21 08:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
G

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
Thanks Osky. Yeah, if you live in the bush for very long, you can probably relate to "X". Saddens me a bit to think we've probably lost most of the X's, and most likely they'll never be replaced.

Jack


Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7869571
05/21/23 08:08 PM
05/21/23 08:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
G

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
Sorry Guys. Back to the top for one more chance.

Jack


Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7869983
05/22/23 02:30 PM
05/22/23 02:30 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
W

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
Makes me think of Fabian Carey


Mean As Nails
Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7870020
05/22/23 03:57 PM
05/22/23 03:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline OP
"On The Other Hand"
G

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
white17 - I never met Fabian Carey, but sure heard a lot of stories, mostly from John Burns. Sounds like quite a guy.


Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7870032
05/22/23 04:45 PM
05/22/23 04:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
W

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
I never knew him either but I did know his son Michael who wrote for the ADN. I talked with him at length about his dad and growing up in Minchumina.

Must have been quite a childhood !


Mean As Nails
Re: "X" [Re: Gulo] #7881036
06/09/23 10:26 AM
06/09/23 10:26 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Offline
"American Honey"
Sharon  Offline
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Just as Osky described, it has a nice gait . I like that term.

Never change a thing in how you write. That's like me changing my style of art....we wouldn't be US , then. Regarding you, we all would lose out on your wonderful perspectives in very well articulated passages. Anything less, or different , and it would be as flat as wine gone sour.

Thank you for your share of winsome talents.

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