Silent Wives Poem by Chris Higginson

Two Cowboys crouched beside their fire
With hands held to the flames
All day they’d been riding wire
Protecting ranchers claims

Now leaning back supported
By saddles on the ground
They talked about assorted
Subjects that they found

To be of joint significance
Relaxed here under stars
All those things of consequence
At times thrashed out in bars

The talk turned to their ‘other halves’
How ladies ruled the roost
How men they knew behaved like calves
When by their wives seduced

They shared those secrets intimate
Like men do when alone
Not pausing to discriminate
The consequence unknown

Roy said, “Well, d’you know what Pete
Ah’ve bin thinking for some time
Mah marriage is just incomplete
And Ah’m still in mah prime

Mah wife of these last forty years
We’ve got no more discourse
When Ah get home she disappears
Ah’m thinking of divorce! ”

Pete thought quiet and chewed a straw
Then said, “You should take care
Recall the words of my old paw:
‘Them’s really are quite rare’!

You’ve gotta go some real long ways
Ter catch one not entwined
I recommend you hope she stays
They’re really hard to find! ”

2nd Provocative Verse