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Show Cross Currents Page 14 April 3, 1998 At least these folks put themselves out McCrae received his award, many of the there. And they seemed to write for the Montana literati were stupefied. The of creation, not to try to make a lit- - lowing was a typical response by a From page 13 erary impression like I had. They simply University of Montana English professor: of literature. Once in a while you find a said, to die best of their abilities: These Cowboy poetry confirms your expec-ar- e real bargain, he said. my experiences as a human being liv- - tations rather than stretching the way A few weeks ago, more than 10,000 you think about ing in this godforsak-ecowboy poetry fans rounded up for the things. Its very comUOTlt 14th annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering en world of the West. CoiVuOy. pOCtS . forting to think in in Elko, Nevada, to listen for those trea- No cliches, but lets not CUM more, no less. sures. Ive never been to Elko, but a few I applauded their pretend that its art. years ago I did attend the Montana gath- efforts: Cowboy poets ering in Lewistown. care what the dont There were Men and women from 10 to 80 years stuffed shirts say. moments when some and old, rawhide-skinne- d rancher, Everythings right and gruff, took turns reciting at wizened McRae whose there, . out probalibrary the podium during the morning and 1 consisted the of explained. They afternoon workshops. For many, it biy collected works of (academics) dont like seemed a tough transition from that because theres Louis Lamour, clev independent cowboy to sensitive, turned an nothing left for them imagivulnerable poet. Most were more com- erly S to or native phrase interpret. fortable lamenting over a horse than revealing their personal fail- painted a colorful Cowboy poetry that was as could be the most ings or longingsrThere Was a consider- - metaphor and able lack of passion and emotion, unless enchanting popular form of folk as it was for some colorful sunset or prairie inspiring anything art being practiced ever Shakespeare grassland. today. When was the Others dropped all pretension of wrote. Then the polite applause turned j time more than 10,000 people into enthusiastic recognition for a true insight or intellectualism and just tried to university campus or small tell amusing stories in rhymed couplets. artist in e roug . town for a weekend to listen to visiting McRae was correct in his assessment. artistic some successes Despite poets, like they do at Elko? McRae says great Most of it was boring, especially when by poets like pioneers Badger Clark, John many people prefer cowboy poetry recited in a preschool, g cadence. Grafton Rodgers, D.J. OMalley, and because they are sick of the But who was I to judge? I used to like McCrae, Paul sentational or impressionistic mysteries write bad poetry too. Only I never let Zarsyki and Henry Realbird, academics devoid of meaning, meter or rhyme that anyone read it, and I stopped creating it. continue to shun cowboy poetry. When are being written and called poetry. Poetry fol-lo- n, blessed-by-hea- v- What the StUjjed lily-whit- soft-spok- e, shirts say. Everythings right out there, McRae en j hey explained. (academics) dont like f yecause there nothing left for them tight-lippe- d, ed long-depart- sing-son- jr ve The numbers not only prove him right, but some cowboy poetry gems hold their own with the greatest creations in literature. Just read some of Badger Clarks works, like Spanish is a Loving Tongue and The Outlaw. Clark was born in the Dakota Territory in 1883. In the first two verses of The Oudaw, a cowboy brags about being able to rope any wild steer or break any defiant horse. But in the end he admits to having trouble coping with a different breed of animal. When the devil at rest underneath my vest Gets up and begins to paw And my hot tongue strains at its bridle reins. I tackle the real outlaw. When I get plumb riled and my Then sense goes wild And my temper is fractious gowed. If hell hump his neck just a triflins speck. Then its dollars to dimes Im throwed Though the gems are rare, its still worthwhile attending a cowboy poetry gathering, especially the workshops for amateurs. Youll see real people attempting to create art. Thats rare enough these days. Mark Matthews lives in Missoula, and is a regular contributor to Writers on the Range, a service of High Country News based in Paonia, Colo. 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