Cowboy poetry is a form of

poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

that grew from a tradition of cowboys telling stories.

Authorship

Contrary to common belief, cowboy poetry does not actually have to be written by cowboys, though adherents would claim that authors should have some connection to the cowboy life such that they can write poetry with an "insider's perspective". One example of a popular "cowboy poem" written by a non-cowboy is "The Ride of Paul Venarez" by Eben E. Rexford, a 19th-Century freelance author.

Style

Newcomers are surprised to hear that cowboy poetry is contemporary. Many poets tend to focus on the historic cowboy lifestyle, historical events and the humorous aspects of the cowboy life style. However, the work that cowboys do continues. The cowboy lifestyle is a living tradition that exists in western North America and other areas, thus, contemporary cowboy poetry is still being created, still being recited, and still entertaining many at cowboy poetry gatherings, around campfires and cowboy poetry competitions. Much of what is known as "old time" country music originates from the rhyming couplet style often seen in cowboy poetry along with guitar music.

Themes

Typical themes of cowboy poetry include: * Ranch work and those who perform it * Western lifestyle * Landscape of the American and Canadian West * Cowboy values and practices * Humorous anecdotes * Memories of times and people long gone * Sarcasm regarding modern contraptions and/or ways * romantics and passion The following is a verse from LaVerna Johnson's poem "Homestead", which exhibits traditional cowboy poetry features: (Note the use of cowboy vernacular such as ''quakie'' (

Populus tremuloides ''Populus tremuloides'' is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, one of several species referred to by the common name aspen. It is commonly called quaking aspen,

, trembling poplar or aspen known as a "quakie tree")). Though it deals with those who work with

livestock Livestock are the Domestication, domesticated animals that are raised in an Agriculture, agricultural setting to provide labour and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, Egg as food, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The t ...

and nature, it would be incorrect to categorize cowboy poetry as

pastoral The pastoral genre of literature, art, or music depicts an idealised form of the shepherd's lifestyle – herding livestock around open areas of land according to the seasons and the changing availability of water and pasture. The target au ...

. Cowboy poetry is noted for its romantic imagery, but at no time does it sacrifice realism in favor of it. Few examples of experimental verse are known in cowboy poetry. One argument is that cowboy poetry is meant to be recited and should "sound like poetry." The counter-argument runs that imposing a particular structure on cowboy poetry would move the focus away from the subject matter. Regardless, most cowboy poets stay within more classical guidelines, especially rhyming verse. Free verse poetry is uncommon in cowboy poetry.

Poetry weeks

Cowboy poetry continues to be written and celebrated today. Baxter Black is probably the most famous, and possibly the most prolific, contemporary cowboy poet. In addition to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering held every year in Elko,

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

, as well as the second largest cowboy poetry gathering, the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering, held annually in Alpine, TX, many cities in the United States and Canada have annual "roundups" dedicated to cowboy poetry. Cowboy Poetry week is celebrated each April in the United States and Canada.

Notable cowboy poets

* S. Omar Barker * Baxter Black * Arthur Chapman * Badger Clark * Curley Fletcher * Steven Fromholz * Cathy Park Hong * Bruce Kiskaddon * Wally McRae * Waddie Mitchell *

Joel Nelson Joel Nelson is a cowboy poet. He is a recipient of a 2009 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. References

N ...

* Red Steagall * Paul Zarzyski In addition,

Robert W. Service Robert William Service (16 January 1874 – 11 September 1958) was an English-born Canadian poet and writer, often called “The Poet of the Yukon" and "The Canadian Kipling". Born in Lancashire of Scottish descent, he was a bank clerk by trade ...

is sometimes classified as a cowboy poet. Famed spoken-word artist Bingo Gazingo has done at least one cowboy poem, "Everything's OK at the OK Corral."

Notes

External links

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko, Nevada

Pincher Creek, Alberta, Cowboy Gathering

Cowboy and Western Poetry at the Bar-D Ranch

Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Video from Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

cowboy poetry gathering in Cartersville, GA

Website of the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association

"Cowboy Poets" film at folkstreams.net

Western & Cowboy Poetry by Clark Crouch

Waddie Mitchell web page

KPOV-FM
Community Radio features Cowboy Poetry on the "Calling All Cowboys" online radio program. Live broadcast on 88.9 KPOV, on Wednesdays at 6PM and Sundays at 4PM (Pacific time) through the "Listen Live" link. It can also be streamed on demand at the following link: http://kpov-od.streamguys.us/calling_all_cowboys_new_56k.mp3 {{Rodeo Genres of poetry Cowboy culture