This poem was written in rememberence of my Dad and all that He went through raising me. He was my best friend, as well as my Dad. We did things together that buddies do, and he taught me a lot about raising youngsters and being patient with them when they do not do as you would want them to. His greatest blessing was his two Grand Daughters, they could do no wrong, and I shouldn't even try to correct them in his presence. Had he lived to see his Great Grand Son, well let's just say that no one could have done anything with the youngster after Dad got finished. Here's to you Dad, I hope you are smiling at this.

Saddles, Chaps, Chinks, and all the rest of the gear that cowboy has to have just to do his or her job starts right on the range itself. All of it is made out of leather. To a cowboy his saddle was not just a piece of equipment that he had to sit on for long hours every day, but it needed to be pretty also. He would oil and clean it every month or so, even if it didn't need it. Now his legginSs or as the Mexico people called them chaps had to be real pretty on Sundays and very versatile the rest of the time. In the high mountains of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho there was developed a different style of chaps, these were called chinks.

I have gotten into Western Poetry writing and really like it. I write in a Southwest Tradition or not in rhyme but still with rhythm. I have Dr. Laurie Champion to thank for this. She is my inspiration and mentor. Any student with aspirations of writing would be wise to take her Creative Writing class.
The poem I started my page with is one that I won first place in the 2001 Anthology from Western Reading Services located in Denver. Colorado. I have been published in their Anthology for the past three years, but never won first. This was a honor to have my poem picked over the many intries that are submitted each year to this publisher. The Editor, Ms Leslie Janes called me to congratulate me on being choosen first. that was more of an honor than just winning. Since then we have become good friends and I hope she reads this page.
Since starting this page I have been published more than once for my poems and short stories. The poem "What Is A Man . . . A Real Man" won honorable mention in the American Collegiate Poetry Contest in California, representing Sul Ross. I was informed there were some 5000 entries to the contest. Also, in "The Sage" our own school's publication this year I have two short stories. "F.N.G." and "Walk Like a Man" The first is a fiction story about a young man that gets to spend his summer vacation in Vietnam, the second is about my Grandfather. Another poem titled " The Wall" is due out by October this year. It was inspired by the print titled "Reflections" showing an older man leaning against the Viet Namm memorial with reflections of soldiers looking out of the Wall. Also I have had a couple of my short stories published in Hard Row To Hoe press in Mass. The poem at the first of the page has been entered in a contest in Austin and in California, we'll see if someone else likes my work. I like to write and hope you enjoy reading my work. If you like it let me know, if you don't let me know how I can do better.
This summer I have been asked again to perform at the Davis Mountain State Park, each Wednesday night in startng in June and continuing until August 18th, singing, playing the guitar, and reading some of my poetry. Davis Mountain State Park is located in Fort Davis, Texas, north of Alpine and Marfa in the beautiful Davis Mountains. Last year I had a lot of fun and got the audience envolved by having some of the kids in the group come up and help me sing some of the old ballads. "Home On The Range" was the favorite but "Red River Valley" ran a close second. I hope to have as much fun this year as last year and will be a little more relaxed. I got to meet a lot of tourist from all over the country last year and I hope to make more friends this year. If you have a gathering and want me to come, contact me via email kitchensj@centex.net or at my webpage www.centex.net/~kitchensj My charge is not high just $200.00 for an hour to an hour and a half show. The price is low because I want to established myself. My music is the old Cowboy Ballads and my poetry is from the heart and from the heart of cow country. I like to list myself as a saddle maker by profession, a writer by trade, and a Poet by heart. So, come see me and if you like my show have me at one of your parties, I promise you a good time.
Again this year I was asked by Mrs. J.J. Tucker from Sul Ross to be a presenter for the 17th annual Cowboy Gathering and as always it was a very very memorable experience. I always enjoy performing before the groups that come to the Gathering because they enjoy the shows and really get into the poetry with the poets. That is what makes reciting your own works the best experience that you can have. If the Folks come by and tell you how much they enjoyed your performance, that just makes it better.
So, when you are going to have a get together of friends and want some good ol' fashioned Cowboy entertainment give me a call. I'd love to come and see if I can make you laugh.

I have been attempting to trace my Family linage and have gotten back into the early 1800's. I was always told by my Grand Father that his Father was Cherokee Indian and I want to trace back to that. I feel that I am Native American and my life's work is an impression of that. I think it fits into the work I have chosen for my life. Maybe that is the way things are suppose to work, I know my Grand Father would be proud of my profession. I hope He can see that He had much to do the choosing. I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you what I really do for a living. I am a Texas Game Warden, and proud of it. I have been for the past 24 years. I can't think of any job in law enforcement that I would rather be doing than being a Game Warden. I get to be outdoors (in all sorts of weather), meet very interesting people (Not me Mr Warden, I wouldn't shoot that deer), work with all other agencies (and see them grin when I talk about setting out on a hill all night), but also hear them ask me "How do you get to be a Game Warden, Jim?" I just smile and tell them if they have to ask, they'll never make it. It is a very hard job, or I should say profession, to get into but when there it's the best there is around, bar none. Where else could one get a four wheel drive vehicle, all of Texas to prowl around in, all Ranchers like to see you come by, get to carry a gun and enforce the law, and get paid for all of this to boot.
The only thing detrimental about the whole job is that more Game Wardens are killed in the line of duty than any other line of law enforcement. The other side of the coin is that we know we are going to be facing people with guns, other cops have to guess at that. So, all in all, I think it works out very fine.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department web page can be reached by clicking here:
See what a great site this is and roam around in it, you just might like what you find.
One of the best things about my job is the amount of time I get to spend teaching and working with kids. The Hunter Education Program teaches hunter and gun safety, while the Operation Outdoors lets the Wardens actually get in the field with the kids. I have taught about 400 kids in the H/S program so and hope to see a lot more in the future. I have gotten to see a young boy or girl catch their first fish, shoot their first deer or an antelope. For a Game Warden to see that big grin on their face is worth all the cold nights sitting waiting for a poacher rolled into one. The more resourceful and safety minded we can make our up coming generations, the less I will have to do, plus the more natural resources we will have to appreciate. I will get off my soap box for now, but I think you might see that I like my job and think it is one that can really make a difference in the insane world we live in.

Well I guess this is the end of my webpage and I sure hope you have enjoyed looking through it. I know I have enjoyed building it. the items listed are real, I have permission to list them on my page. If there are any question, commits, or ideas, please send them to my email address and I will address them. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to look at my webpage. Sinse I have moved my page there will be a short delay while I renoviate and change to bring up to date my poems and stories. Please bear with me and I will get them all to my page where they can be enjoyed.
Sincerly;
Jim Kitchens
Brady, Texas

 Web Master address and email
jkitchens@centex.net 
Designer Address
http://www.centex.net/~kitchensj
Updated 02/17/2010