Guest Writer Tony Lucas

Today, we have a guest who wrote a poem about his experiences with his father and the sheep.  “Little Tony” was the name fondly given by the Thude family as his uncle was also called Tony.   Tony’s father, Eliseo Lucas, was the herder for Gunnar Thude for many years. Lucas is an Arizona Livestock inspector today. 

A SHEEPHERDER AT HEART

FROM THE TIME I COULD REMEMBER I STUCK NEAR MY FATHER, MANY TIMES IN THE WAY BUT TO HIM NEVER A BOTHER.

BEING FOREMAN OF A SHEEP OUTFIT HE MUCH ENJOYED, HE TAUGHT ME HARD WORK NEVER TO AVOID.

IN THE SPRING TRAIL NORTH MOVING CAMP TWICE A DAY, IN A MONTH AND A HALF COOL GREEN MEADOWS WILL BE YOUR PAY.

NEVER GRAZE IN THE SAME PLACE TOO LONG, THAT WAY THE LAND YOU WILL NEVER DO WRONG.

ALWAYS TALK TO THEM SO THEY KNOW WHEN YOU’RE NEAR, THE FLOCK WILL LEARN NOT THE HERDER TO FEAR.

WHEN TURNING THE BAND START AT THE REAR AND STAY WIDE, THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THEY STAY AT EACH OTHERS SIDE.

ALWAYS LISTENING AND WATCHING FOR YOUR HERD MARKS, BELLS, LEADERS, TRAILERS, AND ALL OF THE DARKS.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CUT AT FINDING SIGN BE THE BEST, THOSE STRAYS TRACK AND FOLLOW TILL THEY’RE BACK WITH THE REST.

WHEN YOU COME OFF THE MOUNTAIN AND YOU’RE NOT SHORT A ONE, THAT’S WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THE JOBS BEEN WELL DONE.

WHEN LAMBING HAVE A KEEN EYE AND KNOW YOUR EWES, STOPPING TO FIGURE OUT IS TIME YOU CAN’T LOSE.

AT FIRST LIGHT TILL NEAR DARK STAY IN THE FIELD, AT TAIL DOCKING YOU WILL SEE A GOOD LAMBERS YIELD.

MOTHER NATURE YOU CANNOT CONTROL, THINK AND WORK TO MINIMIZE HER TOLL.

ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AND FEED THEM WELL, AT THE TIME OF SHIPPING BIG LAMBS YOU WILL SELL.

FOR MANY YEARS WE WORKED TOGETHER SIDE BY SIDE, WHATEVER WE DID WE DID IT WITH PRIDE.

WE WORKED AS ONE TO TALK WE NEEDED NOT, FOR WE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT EACH OTHER THOUGHT.

IT GOES UNSAID FIRST COMES THE FAMILY THEN THE SHEEP, WHAT YOU GIVE THEM IS WHAT YOU WILL REAP.

WONDERFUL CHILDREN AND A STRONG, LOVING WIFE, THAT’S THE BEST WE CAN STRIVE FOR IN LIFE.

THEY SAY MONEY AND POWER MAKE A MAN SMART, I SAY IT’S THE LOVE AND STRENGTH IN THAT SHEEPHERDERS HEART.

“IN LOVING MEMORY OF ALL THINGS I LEARNED FOR MY FATHER ELISEO LUCAS”