The Big Parade
by Hal Swift

There's nothin' like a big parade
to get a town excited.
And when the rodeo's in town,
our interest is ignited.

For kids and grown-ups, old folks, too,
the excitement comes all sizes.
You pay your entrance fee up front
to help make up the prizes.

And all the clubs in town take part,
each plannin' their own entry.
They build their float then guard their work
with one old cowboy sentry.

But no one ever steals their plans,
I wouldn't now, would you?
They're too blamed busy with their own
to care what others do.

Of course the bands need tunin' up,
and march around the city.
And all the girls are sewin' clothes
to make themselves look pretty.

The horses know that somethin's up,
they're warshed six times a day!
And brushed and curried till they shine,
they don't know what t'say!

E Clampus Vitus comes to town
with all the tricks they carry.
Young couples often choose this day
to be the day they marry.

The people come from miles around
to see this annual treat.
And cheer the queen of this year's show
as she rides down the street.

And everyone's puffed up with pride,
a famous cowboy's picked to lead it.
This here's the rodeo parade,
there's nothin' that kin beat it!
Hal Swift ©All rights reserved.
 

         
Red Lodge, MT 4th of July Rodeo Parade

       Born in Indiana, Hal has lived in Arizona, California, Texas, and Colorado. With his wife, Carol, he's semi-retired now and living in Sparks, Nevada.

       In addition to his rural life as a youth, Hal has worked as a musician, sailor, reporter, writer, salesman, minister, and disc jockey.  Hal  was in the 108th Army Band, attached to the 158th Infantry Regiment of the Arizona National Guard, 1947-48.  In 1948, he joined the US Navy.  He was a shipboard radio operator as part of the Japan Occupation Forces, and during the Korean War.  In this photo (to the right) he was in Navy radio school in San Diego, California, 1949.

      After accumulating some forty-plus years in radio, TV and advertising, he was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in August of 2005.

        He was in his early 70s when he began writing cowboy poetry.  Hal has authored  a splendid book  of  cowboy poetry, Cowboy Poems and Outright Lies.  It is  available from SilverCreek.
Johnny Gunn, Editor of The Nevada Observer)   said this about Hal's book:

        Hal’s book is in the library at Utah State University, Logan, UT; and in the Dickinsen Research Center National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK. It's available also through the Washoe County Library.  Hal is a warm human being with a great sense of humor. It shows in his book. Here is another example of it...a photo that he shared. In his words, "I was... um, thinking....waiting for the muse to call."

          You can read another cowboy poem by Hal Swift  and more of his bio on this web site.
                                                   "Bull Ridin' Ain't Easy."

                                  You can contact Hal at nevada.swift@yahoo.com

Under copyright protection. The poem on this web page may be excerpted, copied, or reproduced, used or performed in any form (graphic, electronic or mechanical) without the express written permission of  the author.

 

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