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Show r 20 : ; 4 The Salt Lake Tribune. S u nda , y FtJ) r ii a r 2, 1Mb Cowboys Meet For Some Yarn SpinniiC - fcXKO, Nev. (AR) The wide-ope- n West, with its harsh lessons and tough people, was celebrated in verse by those who know it best the cowboys. The second annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering drew thousands of people, mostly ranchers, to this rural Nevada town Thursday for three days of poems, music and story-tellintraditions started around camplires more than a century ago. For the men and women from working ranches around the West, the represented what organizer saw as a chance to ponder, brag and laugh about the harsh life they've chosen. The poems are laced with insider's words, like honvhokers" for early-da- y settlers and "kangaroos for expensive cowboy boots, and are read aloud in dialects unfamiliar to many city dwellers Cowboys pro part of the American culture. We identify with cowboys." says Hal Cannon of the Western Folk Life Center, which played a key role in launching the event. ' Cannon says cowboy poetry is a true American folk art that punctures the stereotyped version of the Wild West and defies efforts at commercialization because of its uniqueness Arizonan Jim Griffith, a panelist at the event, added that the poems have been kept alive almost exclusively in ranching towns, "in a world of natural extremes that stockmen follow." Griffith says the poems and tall tales represent one way to handle the tough life by "bragging on our misfortunes" and "making fun of them in what he describes as survival tactics. Among the poets who recited at the gathering was Don Bell of Byron. Wyo.. whose "Not For Me" read in part: "When we were living those good old days, They didn't seem so good. "We read by the light of a kerosene lamp "And heated our homes with wood g . vvaur ACvm; rest smi u c:: iss&s.. cinbSHxi YOU3 tA :n rc,c.v cur lower sdtsiJ. kz'43 t. CBnSATlSFACTlCm yyilAf!CgUlDYC4 vw STOaEIi fcic:t;Aravv?4Y At x. wiluy, - jfSSh -- r- V-'j-i. f CT A3VI ALL, Wi Now you may look with envious eyes To these times if you are 20. "But I've been through those good old days "And once, my friend, is plenty. Here's another from Montanan Gwen Petersen "A cowgirl knows just what she shouldn't do. "And several things that she wouldn't do. "But, by God, to her credit "Though she never has said it "There really aint much that she couldn't do. West Will Put Faith In Prairie Dog On Groundhog Day - While the LANDER. Wyo. (L'Pll Eastern United States turns to groundhog Punxsutawney Phil to predict the advent of spring, residents of the Rocky Mountain West will depend on a reclusive prairie dog named Lander Lil. Wyoming residents think it's a bit much to expect a Pennsylvania groundhog to predict Rocky Mountain weather patterns, so they'll keep watch Sunday at a prairie dog patch east of town that is home for Lander Lil and hundreds of her kin If Lander Lil sees her shadow, theoretically there will be 5 more feet of snow before the end of 1986. If she does not see her shadow, then spring is around the corner and fall and winter will be normal Sunday may be a long day for Lil watcheis. since the burrow dwelling rodents are still hibernating, said Man (Jilashi, an assistant to Lander s mayor and Lander I.il's publicity coordinator "Of course last year, she did not see her shadow and she was wrong." admits 0 Hashi "U did get 5 more leel of miow in November and December. Usually we get 27 inches of snow during that " period Lander officials hope Lil s prognostication will be more accurate this vear W Ill-Fut- inter HumiI Honor? Challenger eri n annual McUALL. Idaho (APi inter event in the hometow n of Barbara Morgan, backup for astronaut-teache- r Christa McAuliffe who died in Tuesday's shuttle explosion has taken on special interest Children from the mountain town brought flowers loan ice sculpture of the shuttle Challenger that was constructed to honor .Nbegan and Mi At; liffe before the ilM-.iiflight McCall opened its 22nd annual Winter Carnival on Friday with glee and sorrow The glee from the anticipation of a week of winter fun and the ice sculptu! e contest But the sorrow was in remembrance of Tuesday's shuttle tragedy, even more heartfelt in McCall because one of the their own teacher Bat burn Moigan was an alternate for the flight under NASA's Tcai her in Space program w ) WE CARRY OUR OWN CREDIT ACCOUNTS: WE HONOR: Willey's own in store Credit Dept con handle yout flnanre needs. Take up to 43 months to pay with low monthly payments. R C rVHJBDAY nan: annana 861 Ph. E. 6600 262-667- S. STORE HOURS: Open Weekdays 10 am to 7:30 pm 10-- 9 Sat 10-Closed Sunday Fri 1 HOMttFURNISHINGS 6 4 . i --- - - - Plenty of FREE Storeside Parking |
