The T-Anchor Ranch Poem by Lysius Gough

I would like to see the Palo Duro
at the old T-Anchor Ranch;
and the clear, cold-water spring,
that's on the garden branch.
for on that ranch in eighty-two,
one summer I did share,
and in the cool and pleasant days,
spent happy hours there.

Then I could see the pretty valley
so level and so wide
and the wild antelope,
upon the the mountain side;
and the weeping willow grove,
that's by the old corral,
for it's the very place
I used to love so well

And in that old corral,
I used to take my stand,
while in the furnace heat the iron
and catch the calves to brand.
for this, we always did,
let it be cool or calm;
I had a noble partner,
and called him Jolly Sam.

I would then go to the falls,
to see the catfish swim,
take some bait, a hook and line,
and catch a few of them.
I would go up to the stream,
where the plums and currants grow,
among the pretty cedars,
a pleasant place I know.

Then, next upon the park
is where I would like to be;
to view across the level plains,
as far as the eye can see.
then in the shady cedar grove,
in pleasure I would play,
and see the lakes of water wave,
on a clear, bright summer day.

And when the lakes were dry,
I could see the mirage white,
and watch the wild mustang
run far out of my sight.
I could also see the stream,
and the little hills of stone,
the waving cottonwood,
and the waters rolling on.

July, 1884