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
A Bronco Pegasus
FC 11 L-14
127
Charles F. Lummis
In the Southwest
Bent with the sun, and barren, here is New Mexico --
Poems, Facts and Fiction
FC 11 O-03
66
Harold Otto
The Winter of 1978 and 79
It was the day before Christmas in Seventy-eight; the weather got bad I am sad to relate.
Catching It Whole: A First Collection of Poems
FC 11 P-02
32
R.J. Petrillo
I am aware of night
I am aware in the night, combustible among shingle-sided hills
Songs of Juniper Flat
FC 11 D-06
17
Mary R. Duling
Memories of a Water Wagon
Among the early memories of my childhood.
childhood, team, wagon, memories, progress, water
Cowboy Poetry: Classic Rhymes & Prose by D.J. O'Malley, The N Bar Kid White
Janice and Mason Coggin
FC 11 O-06
42
D.J. O'Malley
In Memory of My Mother
The direful news came unto me.
Cowboy Lyrics
FC 11 C-03
109
Robert V. Carr
Confidential
When her arms drift 'round my neck.
kiss, girlfriend, love, romance, touch, embrace
The Big Roundup: Classic and Contemporary Poetry from CowboyPoetry.com
Margo Metegrano
FC 11 M-47
148
Jesus Cervantes
I Seen John Wayne
I seen John Wayne.
Sittin' and A-Grinnin': A Collection of Works
Layle Bagley & Linda Merrill
FC 11 B-11
18
Elizabeth "Buzzy" Vick
They Feed Their Own Horses Better
Real cowboys eat the strangest foods never taking time to dine.
A Cowful of Cowboy Poetry
FC 11 B-43
145
Baxter Black
Two Jumps
Two Jumps said he used to ride bulls.
A Cowboy's Forty Years of Gathering
FC 11 D-03
28
Chet Dawson
It Wasn't Cricket
We had an Englishman one time.
Englishman, tenderfoot, Bitter Root, tease, greenhorn, initiation, gun fire
Songs of the American West
Richard E. Lingenfelter, Richard A. Dwyer and David Cohen
FC 11 L-10
390
The Gal I Left Behind Me
I struck the trail in seventy-nine.
Rhymes of a Rancher
FC 11 G-13
76
E.A.L. Griffin
I'd Like
I'm getting tired o' ranchin', I'd like a change and rest.
occupation, work, banker, lawyer, doctor, editor, ranching
Dry Crik Review: Summer 1992
John C. Dofflemyer
FC 11 D-20
46
Mela D. Mlekush
Dad Says Faithful Old Horses Deserve To Be Buried
Rex didn't die of old age like you claim thirty years later. That old sorrel cow horse was shot once behind the left ear. You sent my brother John to do the job. You were too soft,
Carcass, explode, death, dance, cold fire
Pull Up a Chair: Cowboy Poetry
FC 11 R-22
65
Jim Ross
It is Tougher than a Pitch Pine Knot
Last spring I bought a load of steers
A-Movin' West
FC 11 B-70
44
D.J Badger
Cowboy Vacation
When a cowboy takes vacation, it's a rare and special time. He lines it up with greatest care and ease. He loads stuff in the pickup, including the dogs, And heads for fishin' places bound to please. When he's had enough of fishin,
Poems of American Cowboys & Nature
FC 11 C-04
30
Bob A. Carson
Sipping At Your Bottle
Sipping at your bottle, you think its mighty hard to beat.
bottle, alcohol, drinking, drunk
Tails of the West
FC 11 M-44
15
Frank "Two Jump" Morris
Pay Your Debts
The image burns in my brain.
Cowboy Heart, Soul, and Humor
FC 11 F-20
11
Doug Foshee
Horse Traders
We met up in South Texas some twenty years ago. I don't recall his last name, but he answered to Elmo.
I Was Raised In A Barn
FC 11 B-64
14
Mary Borm
The Heat
It's hot, my word, it's hot! They said, it's ninety three. Feels more like a hundred, With this humidity.
Poems from the Alamo Saloon
FOLK COLL 11 L-45
176
Paul Thomas Lillard
The Finn
When it comes to fightin' men, I gotta say I admire the Finn.
finland, army, stalin
Dry Crik Review (Double Environmental Issue): fall/winter 1992/93, 2 copies
John C. Dofflemyer
FC 11 D-20
98
Joe Greig
Rock Creek
I shut my eyes to a sprawling plant Hovering over a sign that reads U.S. Steel.
Ol' Mike's Philosophy and Foolishness
Mike Oatman
FOLK COLL 11 O-14
70
Mike Oatman
Middle Age Crisis
I've been spending a lot of my time lately trying to figure out what makes people goofy. I've seen grown adults who ought to know better, turn around and screw up their lives with a bunch of goofy decisions that common sense and logic would have told them would lead to the inevitable despair and tragedy.
adult, songs, crisis
"Originals"
FC 11 S-16
51
J.D. Santee
My Mountain
With thoughts and feelings of days gone by,
Missouri Cowboy Poetry
Leroy Watts
FC 11 M-46
266
Ann Sochat
Thirsty
One time when I was younger, I made a foolish mistake.
Cul-de-Sac Cowboy
FOLK COLL 11 R-51
1
Steven Roberts
Cowboy Culture
In 1541, Coronado and his conquistadors marched across what is now Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas, soon followed by others in search of cities of gold and souls to save. What they accomplished during their expeditions was dwarfed by the influence of what they left behind, the horse.
history, cowboy, essay, conquistadors, horses