FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection
Folk Coll 11 is Utah State University's cowboy poetry collection. The collection, originally created
by a generation donation by the L. J. and Mary Skaggs Foundation, includes books gathered
during a fieldwork project in the early 1980s to document cowboy poetry in the U.S. west (see Folk
Coll 11f). From this important fieldwork project came the impetus for the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering held in
January 1985 in Elko, Nevada. Since that time, each January, the Fife Folklore Archives staff take the collection
and Access database (that details each book, poem, author, first line and key words), to the National Cowboy Poetry
Gathering for offsite use. Through University purchases and generation donations from poets and collectors, this collection continues to grow.
Book Title
Composer
Call #
Pages
Author
Poem Title
First Lines
Keywords
The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant
FC 11 M-58
54
Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant
At Last
When I am tired, and old, and worn, And harass'd by regret; When blame, reproach, and worldlings' scorn On every side are met.
Poems from the Alamo Saloon
FOLK COLL 11 L-45
242
Paul Thomas Lillard
Payback
Marie Antoinette made a mistake when she said "Let them eat cake."
marie antoinette, joke, cake
Letters from Elko
FC 11 P-28
18
Scott Preston
Vess
Duality is a symptom of the Western.
Cow Country
FC 11 E-04
92
Tom Ellinwood
The Free-Loaders
Each time that he goes out to feed.
feed, quail, birds
The Collected Verse of A.B. Paterson: containing The Man from Snowy River
FC 11 P-08
33
A.B. "Banjo" Paterson
The Man from Ironbark
It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town
Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip
FOLK COLL 11 N-18
163
Rod Nelson
Pushing Snow
It's that time of year again That gets me down in the mouth. For how I pity all my friends That winter way down South.
snow, shovel, thaw, south
Coolin' Down: An Anthology of Contemporary Cowboy Poetry
Phil Martin
FC 11 M-53
61
Bob Peterson (Wyoming Bob)
Gracious Lady of My Childhood
I'm a son of Wyoming kin to sagebrush, wind, and sand, where the mountains touch the heavens wild unspoiled by hand of man.
Saddle For A Throne
FC 11 O-13
1
Will Ogilvie
"The Men Who Blazed The Track"
Since the toasts for the absent are over, and duly we've pledged in our wine our land, and our friends, and our lover, here's a toast for you, comrades o' mine:
Islands, remember, desire, brighten, ambitions
The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant
FC 11 M-58
30
Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant
The Admiral!
It was the time when punters ask-- "What horse think you the Cup will win?" And men essay the simple task Of doing surplus dollars in.
Muses Of The Ranges
FC 11 D-28
76
John C. Dofflemyer
A Fishin' Hole
There is a fishin' hole thet time's disguised where boys and simple tackle found success, where old men might discuss in tales comprised
sacrifice, price, persist, whale, vision, reflection, lures, John E. Grant
Up Sims Creek, The Third Trip
FOLK COLL 11 N-18
186
Rod Nelson
Forget new equipment lots, find me a good junk yard
I have always enjoyed driving around the country and enjoyed driving around the country and enjoying the scenery. I can drive hundreds of miles and never think to turn the radio on. I don't mind traveling by myself, but enjoy company if I have it.
junk yard, vehicle, recycle
The Broncho Book
FC 11 C-13
23
Captain Jack Crawford
A Yuletide Bouquet
From out the larder of my soul.
December, yuletide
The Best of Robert Service
FOLK COLL 11 S-77
167
Robert Service
Security
Young man, gather gold and gear, They will wear you well; You can thumb your nose at fear, Wish the horde in hell.
security, safety, age
Rhymes Along the Way
FC 11 L-39
88
Robert L. Laumeyer
Election 2000 - I Liked Ike
Through time's distant haze I crawled thorugh the maze to party I could cheer. Not the talk of hate or who was whose mate. A party we held dear. A war hero we could cheer. The elephant walk was proud. Much choice was allowed. Taxes made, bills were paid.
Cowboy Poetry: Cloud Watchers
FC 11 F-16
236
Rolf M. Flake
Safe Keeping
Now Banks are known far and wide For their "safety deposit box." It's for keepin' valuables inside And things like bonds and stocks. And most banks have a special room That's known by all as a "vault"-- And they even close them with a time-lock door At least any bank that's worth it's salt.
Truth, Lies & Otherwise
FC 11 R-24
43
Carl "Skinny" Rowland
Pure Terror
Now the beast stood in the corner, his nostrils blowing steam,
Riding the Range With Floyd
FC 11 O-09
35
Floyd Oyhus
The Cowboy at the Cattle Sale
A cowboy one day, Went out of his way, And stopped at a big Sales Barn. To see how well, The dogies would sell And maybe tell a few yarns.
Between The Fences
FC 11 D-25
125
Danny W. Dutton
Bonita
We cursed the drought and thirst Dust had blown and mesquite pods burst Persevering desert brown and summer death we persevered the worst
The Broncho Book
FC 11 C-13
120
Captain Jack Crawford
The Reporter
Don't turn him down -- don't scare and fret.
reporter
There Ain't Much Romance in the Life of Us Cows
FC 11 J-09
21
Bill Jones
Wife Wanted
It wuz kinda cute and sorta solemn.
marriage, wife, farming, tractor
Sittin' and A-Grinnin': A Collection of Works
Layle Bagley & Linda Merrill
FC 11 B-11
218
Connie Packer
Satisfaction
Four cowboy poets went fishing, Out on the ocean deep.
Cowboy Poetry: The Reunion
Virginia Bennett
FC 11 B-33
112
Gary Robertson
Rode my Son's Horse this Mornin'
I rode my son's horse this mornin' with daddy's Capriola kack.
A Little Bit of Texas: A Collection of Original Poetry
FC 11 N-10
81
Rod Nichols
In Rain
Words don't come easy when I try to explain.
rain, reflection, mistakes, thoughts
Verse for Aussie Children
Carmel Randle
FC 11 R-27
79
Carmel Randle
The Land of Make Believe
I'm a Knight upon his big white horse
Old Hands and Old Brands
Frances Fitch
FC 11 H-05
56
Herbert N. Handley
Again for a Day
Make us Lakota again for a day?Let's go to Eagle Butte, for the "Umpata Washtay."