10/28/05 Battle Axe

Battle Axe I have a poem today for anyone who ever had to milk a cow with a nasty disposition. I'm Jeff Keane. I'll be right back. Mom wrote this poem remembering the ugliness of one cow her family milked for too many years. "Battle Axe" I've known some cows that were hard to milk, and some with udders soft as silk. But there was one and we all did know  she was better for wild cow milking at a rodeo. A big tall milking shorthorn with faucets long. A two handed effort if your hands weren't strong. Sarah was so mean and with milkers raised hob  and we know a young calf couldn't do the job. So Dad said, "milk her and we'll feed her calf. But the misery that caused couldn't be surpassed. She kicked like a horse not like a cow and could kick pails out of our legs somehow. We could have hobbled her to stop all that  but like the old adage, what mouse would bell the cat? Our stools were too low, so a nail keg did do and she could still kick it out from under you. Our lives were in danger if we went lax  finally changed her name to "Old Battle Axe." Battle Axe, you darling we are glad you're gone into "Cow Heaven" and not a milking barn. Thanks for the poem, Mom. If you have a poem or true story about a horse, cow, person or ranch life, I'd like to hear from you so go to americanrancher.com and click "submit cowboy poetry" or "contact us". You may also call 509-782-9444. I'm Jeff Keane.