FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

29769 results found for "No Search Criteria Set"

Book Title

Composer

Call #

Pages

Author

Poem Title

First Lines

Keywords

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

John Dofflemyer

Calving Fields

Blond on black, a filigree of empty shells on long stems bent to new life trembling in a breeze, the light and hollow grace of late spring rains, these wild oats arched,

skeleton, coyote, mail, invitation

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Linda Hussa

In the Evening Autumn

As I rode out to check the cows calving the light came across the meadow low soft and in it I could see a shimmering of cobwebs moving in the breeze

life, world, strands, silver, spiders

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Wally McRae

The Disputed Epicure

"What's your favorite cut of beef?" the highborn lady queried, of an old cowboy who long ago had grown both wise and wearied, of direct infernal questions

egg, disgust, gross, protest

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Sunny Hancock

The Horse Trade

I traded for a horse one time, he wouldn't take no beauty prize; A great big long-eared, blue roan gelding, not too bad for weight or size.

saddle, stories, skill, luck, barn

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Banjo Paterson

In the Droving Days

"Only a pound," said the auctioneer, "Only a pound; and I'm standing here selling this animal, gain or loss-only a pound for the drover's horse?

poor, sea, honest, ill

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Hank Real Bird

A Dream

With ancient songs kept in time by a rawhide rattle, I sang songs of my people. The moon was bright but I wouldn't let her in,

grass, moon, love, smile

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Joel Nelson

Equus Caballus

I have run on middle fingernail through Eolithic morning, I have thundered down the coach road with the Revolution's warning.

nightmare, flower, beaten, vigilante

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

J.B. Allen

Kindred Spirits

The spotted heifer missed the drive, and spent the winter free. Tho's freedom's price was willow bark, then sprigs of fillaree,

tales, secret, free, wreck

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Rod Miller

Spring Works Sonnet

Scrub oak tangles on the slopes; only spots and specks of sunshine sneak in where the calf lies silent and lonely. Breaking branches become a buckskin

instinct, insecurity, taste, smoke, sift

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

Joel Nelson

Breaker in the Pen

There's a thousand year old story involving beasts and men. With one of each we set the stage and let the play begin. Take Eohippus' grandson

patience, restricted, rattle, gold, seldom

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

100

Katie Andraski

Why Girls Love Horses

The stallion grows out of my arm. About to cover a mare, he suckles the wind. The filly breathes close to me. I breathe in tune with her and become quiet

sunlight, grass, church, rain, swallow

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

101

Patty Barnhart

Turquoise

When I am an old horsewoman I shall wear turquoise and diamonds, and a straw hat that doesn't suit me. and I shall spend my social security on white wine

jewel, smile, midnight, patient

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

104

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Walkin' John

Walkin' John was a big rope-hoss, from over Morongo way; When you laid your twine on a ragin' steer, old John was there to stay.

prime, hard day, boss, gentle, breakfast

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

106

Linda Hussa

Homesteaders, Poor and Dry

The world was bone dry. I don't know why God would do such a thing. The field was bare as the floor and the springs nothin'-nothin'.

crazy, knife, baby, hole, mule

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

109

John L. Moore

Observations on a Sunday Walk Home

What we have here is burst of deer and over there a sliver of snakes; down by log a chorus of frogs, and a howl of hounds at our flanks;

crows, cat, wind, squall, whoosh

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

109

John L. Moore

Miles City!

You are the skull of a poorly wintered cow, poor as not prepared for storms you ignored by thinking them borders of your pastureland.

god, laugh, retreat, vision, dying

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

110

Shadd Piehl

My Grandfather's and Father's Horses

The two old-timers stand out west of town with maybe a few cows to share a bale and ground feed each morning. King, over thirty, is swaybacked,

sale, shy, corral, float

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

111

Leon Flick

Fiddles

There's something almost mystical in them magic fiddle tunes, like swans, a flyin' overhead, and callin' to the moon. Like a bull elk calls his challenge

heaven, harp, keys, boys

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

112

Larry McWhorter

Trilogy for Cissy

It's a breezy ten degrees, December 1985 the hooded rather slow-looking boy walks down the street, carrying an egg crate. Not a disturbing sight, but unusual.

babysitter, tears, robotic, protective,

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

114

Randy Rieman

Leaving Camp

Spring's a distant memory now the green grass turned to brown the scattered leaves of aspen trees blow golden' cross the ground

beauty, cherish, sun, separate

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

116

Carolyn Dufurrena

Early Turnout to a Dry Spring

All the promise of the new season withers in sullen gray clouds that refuse to share their moisture. we raise our eyes to the north, scan skies for a promise of rain,

hollow, dust, grass, ridge

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

117

Carolyn Dufurrena

Blue Moon New Year's Eve

One joyous hour skidding in falling snow her snow pants wild with butterflies, pink parka smackeroo of whooping joy skittering on turquoise plastic

storm, Chinese, fireworks, moon, midnight

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

118

Hank Real Bird

Moon

The movement of the wind is held high in the sky position of the moon to foretell what the clouds bring for us. The crescent return she, apogee

earth, rain, snow, turn, moon

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

120

Carolyn Dufurrena

Old Cow Dog's Winter

Steady rain soaks the morning, Gray curtain all but hiding nearer hills. Red hen forsakes her nest across the yard, scolds old Cookie

season, cloud, bank, flowers

Brushstrokes & Balladeers: Painters and Poets of the American West

C.J. Hadley

FC 11 H-60

121

Carolyn Dufurrena

Family Branding

Sunday afternoon, all the kids are roping slurping lemonade between throwing those big calves. Growing up fast, all of 'em.

saddle, victory, flag, rope