The Top Hand (A Poem By Michael Bradbury) – Audio

My poetry comes from living life. It reflects my years as a horseman and cowboy as well as a lawman.

It’s all melded together, just needs sorting out in one’s mind as they listen. I appeared once on the same stage with Baxter Black a great cowboy poet and one of the people who inspired me to write cowboy poetry, it was like coming full circle although it also showed me my limitations. I was also honored to have one of my poems about the passing of an old cowboy friend printed in Western Horseman magazine.

From poetry, I moved on to writing a book about my law enforcement years. I think the two have been a way for me to deal with the pain one inevitably experiences in leading such a life. Both have helped with the healing and have been rewarding in other ways as well, but the reality of such a life never really goes away.

I thank the good Lord every day for my wife, Heidi, and for my children, they are the reason for my happiness. I hope you enjoy the poems and that they bring a little comfort into your lives as well.