Cowboy Poets of Utah

Making Headlines…

Respected writer and poet Rod Miller has been selected as the 2008 Guest Poetry Editor for American Cowboy magazine.

American Cowboy magazine Editor Jesse Mullins first published Rod's poetry in the mid-1990s, and more than a dozen of his poems have been published in the magazine to date. Rod Miller is one of American Cowboy magazine's most-published poets.

Rod teaches poetry workshops and has written essays about poetry; some are featured at CowboyPoetry.com.

Rod comments, "The publishers and editors at American Cowboy, especially Jesse Mullins, have long been active and enthusiastic supporters of cowboy poetry. I saw my first poetry in print in American Cowboy, so the magazine holds a special place in my heart. Lending a hand as guest editor for the year will be a pleasure and an honor, both working with the editorial staff and the poets.”

A member of Western Writers of America, Rod has also published articles and short stories (many included in top Western anthologies), and a successful Western novel, Galllows for a Gunman. More than seventy of Rod Miller's poems have appeared in print. His non-fiction book, Bear River Massacre: First, Worst, Forgotten will be published by the venerable Caxton Press, Fall, 2008.

IN ADDITION, Rod has a new story posted on the Amazon.com Amazon’s shorts feature. This story (“After the Burnt Biscuits”) continues Henry Herbert Knibb’s classic Boomer Johnson, and answers “what happened next…”

Rod has another, earlier story also on the site – “Just Like Tully Said.” I’ve read them both, and as we’d expect they are well crafted, and certainly worth reading! Great stuff, Rod. (jo)

(This information was excerpted with permission from CowboyPoetry.com. To learn more about Rod, or to read his poetry, please visit the web site.)

Rod adds this note:

Also, if you chance upon a copy of the new Range Magazine, you’ll find my poem “Work Ethic” in there, along with a fine color photo of our beloved Brooksie (and others) last winter in Elko.

The Black Hills Report

2007 National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, Hot Springs SD - by Smoke Wade

For thousands of years, the Lakota and Cheyenne people gathered by the natural hot spring waters of the Southern Black Hills. Over time, gold seekers, settlers and cowboys replaced their presence. Most recently, cowboy poets gathered in Hot Springs on September 27-29, 2007, to participate in the 10^th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo (NCPR) which had joined forces with the 10^th Annual Badger Clark Hometown Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering. And what a winning hand this pair of tens was! Produced by Sam Jackson, the NCPR was moved to the more central location of Hot Springs after a successful nine-year run in both Cedar City and Kanab, Utah. The move was made possible by the combined efforts of Bruce & MaryJo Grill, coordinators for the Badger Clark Hometown Poetry & Musical Gathering, and George Kotti, executive director of the Hot Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce was the major sponsor for both events. To get the weekend started, arena boss, Sam Jackson and judge foreman, Ed Nesselhuf, presented a cowboy poetry workshop on Thursday morning. After the workshop, judges were put through a training session as several poets recited for practice. The panel of judges were Ed Nesselhuf of South Dakota; Yvonne Hollenbeck of South Dakota; Jeri Dobrowski of North Dakota; Robert Dennis of South Dakota; and Verlin Pitt of Wyoming. After the workshop and judge training was completed, the arena boss, Sam Jackson drew the starting positions for the competition. Rod Nichols of Texas drew the dreaded 7:00 a.m. "first out" starting slot for Friday morning. The competition is divided into two divisions—the Rising Star and Silver Buckle. The Rising Star is for only those that have never won a NCPR first place in a past competition. The Silver Buckle is open for all competitors including those that have won a first place in a previous NCPR. Each division is divided into Poet/Serious; Poet/Humorous; Reciter/Serious; and Reciter/Humorous. "Poet" is defined as original work while "reciter" is the work of another poet. Up for grabs is a silver buckle for first place winners in the Rising Star division and prize money. The usual purse amount is $5000.00 divided between the top four finishers of each competition. This year for the 10^th Anniversary of the NCPR, a "Shoot-Out" was added with a purse of $1000.00 divided between the first and second place "riders." Each poet had a rodeo number pinned on their back. And what a diverse group of poets they were. Participants included Minnesota poets, Rich Bellert and Diane Tribitt; South Dakota poets, Ken Cook, Don Hilmer, Bonnie Krogman, Slim McNaught, and Jerry Simmons; Nebraska poets, Marty Blocker, Marci Broyhill, and Willard Hollopeter; Utah poets, Kenny Hall, Doug Keller, Paul Kern, Michael Robinson, and Gordon Thomas; Wyoming poets Ken Chrissley, Andy Nelson, John Crabtree, and Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns; Texas poets, Scott Hill Bumgardner, Linda Kirkpatrick, Rod Nichols, and Virginia Taylor. In addition were Smoke Wade, Nevada; Van Criddle, Oregon; Glen Enloe, Missouri; Slim Farnsworth, Colorado; Ron McDaniel, Arkansas; and Susan Parker, California.At 7:00 a.m. sharp, the rodeo announcer, Andy Nelson called the first contestant, Rod Nichols, from the chute. Nichols set the bar by scoring a 44-point ride and the rodeo was in full swing. After the Rising star division was over the crowd broke for lunch. Some took the opportunity to browse the Western Arts and Trade show held in the lobby of the event center. Others shopped for CDs and poetry books at the product sales table. Most took the time to grab a hamburger and order of fries at local eateries. After lunch, the Silver Buckle Division competition got under way. All participants in both divisions had a 5-minute time limit to complete their "ride," with points taken away if they exceeded the time limit. After the dust had settled, the top fifty percent of each event were notified they would advance to the finals on Saturday. Marty Blocker scored a high point ride of 50.5 in the Rising Star division while Linda Kirkpatrick won a high score of 52 in the Silver Buckle division. Two evening shows took place on Friday night. The main show was the Badger Clark Hometown Poetry & Musical Gathering at the event center. Across town at the Veteran’s Hospital, NCPR contests Van Criddle, Gordon Thomas and Smoke Wade presented a cowboy show hosted by Brad Exton and Bonnie Jo Benson, both of Utah and South Dakota. Brad and Bonnie Jo played music and sang as the Ramblin’ Rangers. The NCPR finals got under way at 8:00 a.m. sharp, as the rodeo announcer, Andy Nelson, called Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns as first rider out for the day in the Rising Star division. Stearns set the score to beat at a total combined score of 85. One by one the riders came out of the chute gates, working their "mount" for all they were worth. By noon, the scores were final. The winning results were for the Rising Star division: Poet/Serious, Ken Cook—combined score of 97.5; Poet/Humorous, Slim Farnsworth—96.5; Reciter/Serious, Marty Blocker—98.5; and Reciter/Humorous, Marty Blocker—100. The Silver Buckle division winners were: Poet/Serious, Rod Nichols—combined score of 95.5; Poet/Humorous, John Crabtree—96; Reciter/Serious, Linda Kirkpatrick—104 (the high point ride of the event); and Reciter/Humorous, Smoke Wade—99.5. Marty Blocker earned the overall Best of the Best trophy for overall high money earnings. Linda Kirkpatrick took home the trophy for high money in the silver buckle division. For the complete results of all NCPR finishers visit www.cowboypoetry.com. After lunch on Saturday, the 10^th NCPR Anniversary "Shoot-Out" took place with Smoke Wade as rodeo announcer. Seven contestants competed for the money with Andy Nelson taking first place with a combined score of 102.5. Ken Cook earned the second place winnings with a combined score of 101.5. Following the "Shoot-Out," the show went to the dogs. Suzy and Bob, both stock dogs, like to recite on the stage. Suzy came with Sam Jackson while Bob traveled with Rhonda Stearns. Suzy barked in perfect meter. Bob was best in presentation. And when all the barking was done, the competition came to a close.

photo by Smoke Wade
Suzy Jackson COWBOY POETRY RODEO

Organizer Sam Jackson has announced that the 11th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo will take place September 25-27, 2008 in Hot Springs, South Dakota, in an expanded three-day format. The event will be held in conjunction with the Badger Clark Hometown Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering, as it was in 2007. Sam Jackson conceived the popular National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, based on his belief of "excellence through competition."

Plans are underway for a 2008 Regional Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in Kanab, Utah. The event will coincide with Cowboy Poetry Week in April, 2008. Rodeo organizer Sam Jackson reports that the community, which hosted the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo for several years, has offered generous sponsorship to underwrite the national event's first regional competition. Sam Jackson conceived the popular event, based on his belief of "excellence through competition."

Details about the 2008 Regional Cowboy Poetry Rodeo are forthcoming on CowboyPoetry.com.

Cowboy Poetry Rodeo - 2008

Clint Nielsen - Scribe

After a hiatus of a year, Sam Jackson is returning the Cowboy Poetry Rodeo to the land where it truly belongs, Kanab, Utah. Thank you, Sam Jackson, and thank you, all you lovers of those who tamed the West with their ropes, with their horses, with their guns, and with those gnawed-off, stubby pencils that spewed out their thoughts as earthy and heartfelt as a steer’s bawl or the midnight thunder of a storm-caused stampede.

The same blood that coursed through the veins of the 1880 cowboy still courses through the veins of the rancher cowboy of this very same year. We appeal to all of you western writers and poets to come to Kanab, Utah, on April 25 and 26 of the year 2008 and let us drink of your humor, your unique vernacular, and of that dry wit and wisdom that has made the cowboy and his poetry, legends that will never die.

“Excellence through Competition” is the theme of this Rodeo and, trite as it may be, truer words were never spoken. While it is true that only one poet takes home the coveted silver buckle in each category, each and every cowboy competitor takes home the friendships, the growth, and the lifetime inspiration that are gained at these wonderful battles of spoken word. We implore, each and every one of you aspirants, established poets, and interested spectators to attend.

The West! What a glorious place . . .

where cowboy poetry was born and bred!

The people here are a special breed.

They match the land with its rock and weed.

Rough hewn, yes, but solid and true,

And I love this land where my parents grew.

And . . . so, when Life’s lights begin to dim,

And it’s time to “pack our blankets in,”

May the good Lord see that we need some rest,

Slap our backs and head us West!

We’re waiting to welcome you!

(Clint Nielsen)

The National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo is under the direction of CPU’s Sam Jackson.

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STAN TIXIER says he was “pleased” to have his poem, Spurs in the Western Horseman's calendar for 2008. He says, “The other poem they have (along with lots of beautiful photos month by month ) is by some poet named Baxter Black.” We are DANG proud of you, Stan! Here is the poem:

SPURS

A cowboy's spurs have always been

important in his tack,

Just like his boots, his broad-brimmed hat

and his old trusty kack,

He never mounts without 'em,

without 'em he's not dressed,

With silver trim and fancy bobs,

he's just not that impressed,

"Cause spurs are tools for working,

a safety item too,

"Could that be true," the dude asks.

You bet, it's really true.

The Humane group will argue,

"They're torturous and cruel,

Spurs should be banned or outlawed,

not used on horse or mule,

Those rowels are sharp and lethal,

when jabbed into the side

Of some poor helpless pony,

to rip and tear his hide,

So, let's make spurs illegal,

like fighting bulls or cocks,

Restrict a cowboy's footwear

to just his boots and socks."

Well, that's not all the story,

in fact it's just not so,

There's things about a pair of spurs

you really ought to know,

The rowels are hardly sharp, no sir, they're dull and often small

Touched firmly to a horse's ribs,

they're seldom "jabbed" at all,

But any cowhorse knows they're there,

he knows with every single

Slight movement of the cowboy's legs,

'cause he can hear 'em jingle.

And if the truth were really known,

you give a lot more hurt

By whacking on a horse's rump

with some big rawhide quirt,

Now, 'bout that safety factor,

you might not think it's so,

But if you get into a tight

and really have to go,

And move in one big hurry,

a touch of spur to steed

Will bring the right reaction,

to make the jump you need.

And when a cowboy trains a colt

to work or maybe show,

Those spurs can be a big assist

with all he needs to know,

Applied with skill and knowledge,

they teach a pony how

To move with speed and savvy,

to catch or turn a cow,

In competition show rings, well,

spurs can tell a steed

To canter, trot or side-pass,

or take the proper lead.

So, if you think a cowboy's spurs

are just too darned severe,

And bloody up a saddle-horse,

I say, "You needn't fear,"

'Cause spurs, although traditional,

are modern and refined

State of the art equipment,

so friend please keep in mind,

That while a cowboy uses them,

with little hesitation,

They are, in fact, a good device

for good communication.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,

Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"

Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

(This poem was contributed by Brian Arnold, and came with the following:

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN 30th Naval Construction Regiment OIC, Logistics Cell One Al Taqqadum, Iraq

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NEWSFLASH!

CowboyPoetry.com plans to have a great silent auction this Christmas season, of spurs made by Pete Bennett, Virginia Bennett's husband, along with books by and edited by Virginia. Please stop by the website to see the Silent Auction, a new Art Spur, and the eighth annual Christmas at the BAR-D – and send in your contributions! Sponsorships of CowboyPoetry.com are tax deductible, and we ALL benefit greatly from the good the website does for cowboy poetry.

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MOAB GATHERING:

The annual MOAB COWBOY GATHERING held over Presidents’ Day weekend, is shaping up gloriously. Scheduled performers to date include: Michael Martin Murphey, Dave Stamey, Belinda Gail, Bill Snow Jr., Peggy Malone, Sid Hausman, Jim Nelson, Marion Manwill, Brooksie, Kenny Hall, Ray Lashley, Brian Arnold, Jo Lynne Kirkwood, Stan Tixier, Paul Bliss, Richard & Lynnie Espinoza, Al Clark, Don Kennington, Latigo, Sam DeLeeuw, Val Carter, Gordon Thomas, Curly Syndergaard, Latigo!, Francis Wheeler, and Doug Keller!

The event begins with a kick-off concert Friday evening, this year headlined by DAVE STAMEY. Events continue at the MARC throughout Saturday and Sunday, with MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY headlining the Saturday night show at nearby Red River Lodge guest ranch. Saturday’s jam session will be a dinner event, and audience guests as well as performers are invited. The SUNDAY NIGHT SHOW is a real favorite, showcasing a large number of outstanding performers in a round-robin style venue at the MARC. Ken Stevens once again has graciously granted the use of his “Campfire” and the show is an “around the campfire” venue that really captures the feel of the WEST. Gathering events include a dutch oven cook-off, cowboy church on Sunday, and an open-mic stage hosted by Lynnie Espinoza, a member of the organizational staff at the Heber City Gathering. Plan to attend, and be part of UTAH’S BEST WINTER GATHERING (Heber City is technically in the fall.) This time of year motel rates in Moab are affordable, and even if you aren’t scheduled as an invited performer this year there will still be great performance opportunities available with the open mic stage.

You may also thank Stan Tixier for the following insightful little tidbits…

MARRIAGE SEMINAR

While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes." He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife's favorite flower?" Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "It's Pillsbury, isn't it?

WORDS

A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men...

The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"

CREATION

A man said to his wife one day, "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time."The wife responded, "Allow me to explain.God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you !

The Silent Treatment

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him

at 5:0 0 AM for an early morning business flight.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper,

"Please wake me at 5:00 AM ." He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him,

when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.

The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM . Wake up."

Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

God may have created man before woman, but there is always a rough draft before the masterpiece.

Memories of Christmas

Colored lights across the room,

Children playing on the floor;

I guess I'm living in the past,

I've gone back sixty years or more.

And oil lamp glows on the window sill,

Shadows flicker on the snow,

Christmas was a holy time

So many, many years ago.

There was love within our humble home,

Every night we were together,

With the Christmas story from the Bible,

We paid no attention to the weather.

Youngsters practiced being good,

It was like that on every farm;

George and I were chopping wood

To keep our homestead cabin warm.

The chores we did by starlight

Proved a blessing in the end,

Each star we saw up in the sky

Became our special friend.

We had to carry drinking water

While we waited for the pail to fill,

I said, "That's the star that led the wise men,

Shining there about the hill!"

No one had to tell us which star,

We had that one figured right;

It was the one that shone the brightest

Just before the morning light.

On Christmas Eve our barn was spotless,

We spread clean straw and fed choice hay,

We knew which stall we would offer

If Mary came to us someday.

I don't recall a lot of presents,

It was different from today,

We will not forget the spirit

That filled our ranch house on that day.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Upcoming Events:

January 12^th: CPU Members Meeting

Mi Rancharito, Payson, Utah (NOON)

January 26^th – February 2^nd

ELKO gathering

February 15-18^th MOAB GATHERING, Moab Utah

February 29-March 2, 2008

Fourth Annual LEE EARL MEMORIAL COWBOY GATHERING

April 20-26^th COWBOY POETRY WEEK

April 25^th – 26^th KANE COUNTY COWBOY GATHERING and REGIONAL COWBOY POETRY RODEO

May 8, 9, 10 – 1^st Annual GOLDEN SPIKE COWBOY POETRY AND MUSIC FESTIVAL – Ogden

September 25- 27^th