Stephen Bly
Finding the Romance in Novel Research by western author Stephen Bly
When a cowboy writer does novel research, the sight of a landmark can spark an idea for a full-fledged novel … or just a poem.
Southeast of Four Corners, New Mexico is Shiprock, an impressive example of a volcanic neck or a central feeder pipe formed by a long ago eruption.
Shiprock, New Mexico
In Monument Valley, west of this location, the pillars tower one after another. But Shiprock stands alone. With its spire in the shape of the rigging of an ocean bound vessel, the silhouette looks very much like a tall ship on the horizon.
No wonder the old-timers trudging across the desert rubbed their eyes in disbelief at the view. If you ever get a chance to visit this site, we have found between March and May to be the best times. If you have already been there, what did the vision of it inspire in you?
Here’s my Shiprock cowboy poem derived from my novel research. Someone ought to put music to it and make it a song. What do you think … what sort of tune would best fit?
Navajo Rose
It was a straight up day in Shiprock,
in July of eighty-three
Canvassed with dust, but showin’ no rust
that buckskin geldin’ and me
I ain’t sayin’ the day was perfect,
It would have its problems, you bet
As likely as not, it would get way too hot
And we’d both be wallerin’ in sweat
But potential hung in the desert air
like the gap in your teeth you can’t hide
This was the very day, I’d been waitin’ since May
when up to the schoolhouse I’d ride
She promised she would linger
until the spring gather was through
I could hardly wait, so I picked up the gait
when the picket fence came into view
Some might call her plain lookin’
but they don’t say that to my face
She’s my Navajo Rose and I’ll break any nose
that tries to bring her disgrace
Her smile sets my heart a beatin’
her dark eyes shout forever to me
She surrenders her lips, with her hands on my hips
I’m luckier than I deserve to be
I reckon you know the feelin’
and can understand my worry and fear
when I spotted that hack, parked way out back
and a duet of laughter I hear
I spied a tall man in the foyer
sported out in dark suit and tie
She looked happy in white, eyes teared at the sight
I reckon I was jist goin’ to die
She ran to my side when she saw me
I ain’t sure what this is about
When I taste her kiss, it still feels like bliss
And it makes my toes want to shout
She tugged me up the stairs to the schoolhouse
No protest she would allow
“I would like you to meet the Reverend Montreat
he will perform our service right now”
The tin ceilin’ swirled above me
Vision failed and I feared for my life
When I finally came to, I shouted “I do!”
He pronounced us now man and wife
It was a straight up day in Shiprock,
in July of eighty-three
the clock struck noon, it was our honeymoon
my Navajo Rose and me
Copyright©2003
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Congrats! It seems to me lately that you have more attcviiy and discussion here than SDA. I know your format is different, however, when we blog junkies’ hit the computer for our latest fix we like to see lot’s of discussion (speaking for myself).