Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp · Chapter
The Habit explained
A restless wanderer reflects on his inability to stay in one place, describing how the habit of roaming—driven by the lure of the open road, the wind, and the sun—makes settling down impossible.
What happens
A restless wanderer reflects on his inability to stay in one place, describing how the habit of roaming—driven by the lure of the open road, the wind, and the sun—makes settling down impossible. He has traveled from Portland to San Antone, experienced both wealth and jail, but always feels compelled to move on.
Themes in this chapter
Freedom and Independence
The speaker celebrates the freedom of the open road and the independence of a life unbound by place, choosing movement over stability.
Solitude and Reflection
The poem is a solitary meditation on the speaker's own nature and the irresistible pull of wandering.
Characters to notice
- Berton Braley
Author and speaker of the poem, expressing his own restless nature and the habit of wandering.
Key passages
“I’ve beat my way wherever any winds have blown; I’ve bummed along from Portland down to San Antone; From Sandy Hook to Frisco, over gulch and hill— For once you git the habit, why, you can’t keep still.”
I've traveled everywhere the wind took me, from Portland to San Antonio, from Sandy Hook to San Francisco, across canyons and hills—because once you get used to moving, you can't stay put.
The speaker describes his extensive travels and the compulsive nature of his wandering.
“I settled down quite frequent, and I says, says I, “I’ll never wander further till I come to die.” But the wind it sorter chuckles, “Why, o’ course you will.” An’ sure enough I does it ’cause I can’t keep still.”
I often try to settle down and tell myself I'll never roam again until I die, but the wind seems to mock me, and sure enough, I end up moving because I can't stay still.
The speaker's attempts to settle are thwarted by his own restless habit.
“I’ve been in rich men’s houses an’ I’ve been in jail, But when it’s time for leavin’ I jes hits the trail.”
I've experienced both wealth and imprisonment, but when it's time to go, I simply take to the road.
The speaker's wandering transcends social status and circumstances.
“The sun is sorter coaxin’ an’ the road is clear, An’ the wind is singin’ ballads that I got to hear. It ain’t no use to argue when you feel the thrill; For, once you git the habit, why, you can’t keep still.”
The sun invites me onward, the road is open, and the wind sings songs I must listen to. There's no point in arguing when you feel that excitement—once you have the habit, you simply cannot stay still.
The natural world calls the speaker to continue his journey, and the thrill of wandering is irresistible.