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Show Page 10 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue IV January 2000 Local Poet Tells Stories With A Western Flair By BARBIE SUNDERLAND Ogden Valley News Staff Cowboy poetry offers a unique insight to western life, often in a humorous, but at times in a serious way. Sometimes it rhymes, at other times it doesn’t. And, the authors don’t have to be cowboys. The poems are often riddled with words particular to the cowboy dialect adding to the character of the western verses. The reader’s diction and rhythm adds to the flavor and style of this unique literature. Cowboy poet Stan Tixier of Eden didn’t become serious about writing poems until he retired from the United States Forest Service in 1991. Dozens of poems later, he published his first book of poems “A Good Lookin’ Horse” and released a cassette tape in 1993. Writing cowboy poetry interested Stan as far back as the 1960s when he got his first idea for a poem. His inspiration—litter. Twenty years later he finished the poem “No Deposit, No Return,” his contribution to protecting the environment. The first poem he wrote upon retiring, which Tixier credits his first serious calling to this western art, is “A Good Lookin’ Horse.” “The ideas are more spontaneous,” said Tixier. Anything from a joke to a true-life story serves as the inspiration for his work. He says poems sparked from true-life stories are the most meaningful. He also likes to write about what Cowboy Poet Stan Tixier he knows. “The Gaited Horse” talks about his passion and knowledge of Foxtrotters. He has been raising and riding the smooth-stepped breed for more than 25 years. Two renowned cowboy poets he 8 0 1 -7 4 5 -4 0 0 0 2 5 5 5 WOLF CREEK DRI V E EDEN , U T AH TAH STORE H OU RS: M ON .-SAT. 7 AM - 1 0 PM SU N DAY 7 AM - 9 PM Valley Market Winter Specials *Coupon* FREE Video ($2.99 value) with the purchase of an 8-piece Chicken Dinner Limit one coupon per purchase Expires 2/15/00 *Coupon* FREE Movie ($2.99 value) reveres are S. Omar Barker and “Banjo” Patterson. Tixier says that Barker was “impeccable with rhyming and meter,” and that the movie “The Man from Snowy River” was based on one of Patterson’s poems. He follows their work because of their style and their attention to detail. In the nine years he’s been writing, he has performed at more than 200 events in states throughout the west. In addition to performing at roundups, Tixier has been known to make appearances for special occasions ranging from weddings to company-sponsored events. One of his favorite events is the Cowboy Poetry Roundup held during Ogden’s Pioneer Days. He says the local crowd is enthusiastic and appreciative of the poetry, making it that much more fun to perform. The second annual Cowboy Poets Rodeo in Cedar City, Utah gave Tixier an opportunity to compete against his peers. He took first place in the serious poet category and took second in a runoff for the serious reciter category. The poet category is when you read your own work, and the recital category is when you read another author’s work. Competitions in cowboy poetry are rare according to Tixier, although he predicts the number to grow in years to come. Stan’s love for poetry has become a family affair. His wife Jan always provides the necessary critiques as he’s developing new poems. His oldest son John, displayed his talent with the guitar by providing the background music for the tape. His daughter Ann Bingham helped with the computer layout of the book, and his youngest son Joe contributed a poem that he had written for Stan’s retirement party. Even his son-in-law Allen helped with some of the book’s illustrations. Tixier doesn’t have a favorite poem but, the two he performs most often are “A Good Lookin’ Horse” and “One Cowboy’s Prayer.” The latter just happens to be his wife’s favorite. He recently received the honor of being the first cowboy poet ever featured in the Utah Performing Arts Tour. This is a catalog that lists performing artists from around the state including, but not limited to, dancers, pianists, singers, and now cowboy poets. Next on Tixier’s calendar is auditioning for the Performing Arts Festival in Salt Lake City, which is held in June. And, he hopes to be invited back to perform at this year’s Ogden Pioneer Days. If you would like more information about Stan’s poetry or would like to purchase a book or tape, or schedule a performance, he can be reached at 745-4121. A Cowboy’s Scarf You ask me why a cowboy wears a scarf around his throat, Could it be like a necktie, with resemblance remote? Or does it have a function that can help a puncher do His duties with the cattle that are more than just a few? This scarf or kerchief may be made of cotton, silk or mixed, It may be bright and colorful or somewhere in betwixt A simple blue bandanna and a gaudy painted rag, He wears it tied securely or sorta’ jaunty sag. But does it have a purpose, more than just part of his clothes? You bet, and that is when the thing is worn above his nose, So he looks like a little kid a pullin’ off a prank, Or like a desperado gettin’ set to rob a bank. But when you see a puncher pushin’ cattle down a trail Amid a cloud of powder than can cause your lungs to fail, Well it ain’t hard to understand why that old scarf’s a must, It works just like a filter, so the cowboy don’t eat dust. copywrite 1993 Stan Tixier Senior Meals Meals provided at the Ogden Valley Branch Library January 20: Pork Chop with Gravy, Sweet Potatoes, Cauliflower, Apricot Gelatin Salad, Lemon Bar and Ranch Bread. with the purchase of a January 27: Chili Con Carne with Crackers, Carrot and Celery Sticks with Olives, Cherry Pineapple Gelatin, Chocolate Iced Brownies and Cornbread. Frescheta Pizza February 3: Corned Beef, Whole Potatoes, Steamed Cabbage, Sliced Tomatoes, Fruited Pudding and Dilly Roll. Limit one coupon per purchase Expires 2/15/00 February 10: Barbeque Chicken, Baked Potato / Sour Cream, Orange Glazed Beets, Creamy Coleslaw, Spiced Apple Raisin Dessert and Potato Roll. |