Humor
The audiences at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering love to laugh and our poets never disappoint. From 100-year-old classics to others fresh off the iPad, we've assembled some the finest belly busters in our archives.
Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.
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Third Race at Honeymoon is Over Downs
Andy takes us to the horse races. Andy Nelson performs his "cleaned up" version of "Third Race at Honeymoon is Over Downs" during "The Whole Beef" show at the 39th Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Andy Nelson
Pinedale, WY
Andy Nelson is an energetic and high-spirited cowboy poet and humorist from Pi... -
The Funeral
DW describes a confounded funeral experience. DW Groethe performs "The Funeral" during "That Seventies Show" at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DW Groethe
Bainville, MT
DW Groethe is the son of a son of pioneers. He was born and raised in the west of Dakota and has l... -
Waterskiing Poem
A cowboy on water skis? Jake explains why this may not have been a prudent choice. Jake Riley performs his "Waterskiing Poem" during the "Better Part of Living" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jake Riley
Riverdale, NE
Jake Riley grew up, for the most part, in... -
Rod's Wig
Rodney's bald pate is the subject of this poem. Rodney Nelson recites "Rod's Wig" by Pat Richardson during the "Georgie, Pat, Jess, Elisabeth: Classic Poems and Tales" show at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
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Rodney Nelson
Almont, ND
Rodney Nelson and his wife, Teri, ... -
Ode to Tofu
Yvonne shares a stinker of a poem. Yvonne Hollenbeck recites "Ode to Tofu" by Elizabeth Ebert during the "Georgie, Pat, Jess, Elizabeth: Classic Poems and Tales" show at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Clearfield, SD
Yvonne Hollenbeck is a South Dak... -
Pulling the Caking Truck Blues
In Yvonne's years as a ranch wife, she has learned that helping hubby can be a chore. Yvonne Hollenbeck recites "Pulling the Caking Truck Blues" during the "Wild Abandon" show at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Clearfield, SD
Yvonne Hollenbeck is a ... -
Jugs
R.P. explains that some "ranchy" terms can easily be misunderstood. R.P. Smith recites "Jugs" during the "Wild Abandon" show at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
R.P. Smith
Broken Bow, NE
R.P. Smith is a fourth-generation rancher from Broken Bow, Nebraska. In the ranch... -
Harley's Last Parade
Floyd shares a tale of two brothers. Floyd Beard performs
"Harley's Last Parade" during the "Highlights of the Open Mic" at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.ABOUT THE ARTIST
Floyd Beard
Kim, CO
Floyd Beard is a livestock producer who traces a ranching heritage back five generations o... -
Song of the Cistern
R.P. asks what can go wrong when fixing a cistern? R.P. Smith performs "Song of the Cistern" during the "Wild Abandon" show at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
R.P. Smith
Broken Bow, NE
R.P. Smith is a fourth-generation rancher from Broken Bow, Nebraska. In the ranchi... -
Dining Out
Yvonne recounts a "romantic" dinner with her rancher husband. Yvonne Hollenbeck recites "Dining Out" during the "Back in Elko Town" show at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Clearfield, SD
Yvonne Hollenbeck is a South Dakota cattleman’s wife who write... -
The Night Ol' Flukie Foundered
DW shares this funny saga of Ol' Flukie, who had a taste for "oysters." DW Groethe recites "The Night Ol' Flukie Foundered" during the "Laugh Kills Lonesome" show at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DW Groethe
Bainville, MT
DW Groethe is the son of a son of pioneers.... -
Natural Remedy
Jake recounts a story travelling with with two kids and playing Mr. Mom. Jake Riley recites "Natural Remedy" during the "Family, Friends + Community" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
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Jake Riley
Riverdale, NE
Jake Riley grew up, for the most part, in the Upper ... -
The Class Reunion
Yvonne shares her surprise at how everyone but her has changed at her class reunion. Yvonne Hollenbeck performs "The Class Reunion" during "The Real Deal" show from "The Wild Ride" 2022.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Clearfield, SD
Yvonne Hollenbeck is a South Dakota cattleman’s wife, who w... -
Bet at the Bar
Waddie explains why sometimes you just can't win. Waddie Mitchell performs "Bet at the Bar" during "The Real Deal" show from "The Wild Ride" 2022.
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Waddie Mitchell
Twin Bridges, NVWaddie Mitchell was immersed in the cowboy way of entertaining as a boy on the Nevada ranches whe...
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Rebel Rouser
Yvonne Hollenbeck performs "Rebel Rouser" during the "I Just Wanna Be a Comic Cowboy" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. She takes us on a humorous vacation(?) riding a Yamaha motorcycle on the way to Sturgis. She paints colorful images of a cowboy turned biker and his wife.
ABOU...
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The Horse Trade
Sunny deadpans a yarn about trying to come out on top a booger of a deal. Sunny Hancock performs "The Horse Trade" at the 5th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. On the web at arts.gov.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sunny Hancock was b... -
Mutual Respect
Chris is a mule man. He finds a good pace with a mule tale (and an appreciative mule woman). Chris Isaacs performs his poem "Mutual Respect" during the "Cowboy Stew" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
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Chris Isaacs
Eagar, AZ
Chris Isaacs is an award-winning poet... -
Sheep Camp
Jake tells one of those first-person sidesplitters that’s only funny after the fact. In fact, it’s “almost entirely true”—happened to him in Farmington, New Mexico, in 2000. Jake Riley performs his poem "Sheep Camp" during the "Better Part of Living" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gather...
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The Vegetarian's Nightmare (or A Dissertation on Plants' Rights)
Baxter puts forth his notorious piece on plants' rights. Baxter Black performs "The Vegetarian's Nightmare (or A Dissertation on Plants' Rights)" during the first evening "concert" at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985 (in 2000, the event was renamed the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering by...
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TV Talk Shows
Rodney attributes the rise of syndicated daytime drama to the original spectacle–critters. Rodney Nelson performs "TV Talk Shows" during the "That Seventies Show" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Rodney Nelson
Almont, ND
Rodney Nelson and his wife, Teri, li... -
Bunkin' with Pat
Rodney pokes fun at his poet pal Pat Richardson. Rodney Nelson performs "Bunkin' with Pat" during the "Laugh Kills Lonesome" show at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Rodney Nelson
Almont, ND
Rodney Nelson and his wife, Teri, live at Sims, North Dakota, population 2, ... -
The Bra
Waddie tells a cautionary tale about underestimating an everyday garment. Waddie Mitchell recites "The Bra" by Bill Hirschi during the "Laugh Kills Lonesome" show at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Waddie Mitchell
Twin Bridges, NV
Waddie Mitchell was immersed in the... -
Bronco Harry's Last Ride
Carol tells of the dodgy, deathly situation where Bronco Harry tangles with Satan’s incarnation. Carol Heuchan recites "Bronco Harry's Last Ride" by Jack Drake during "That Seventies Show" at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Carol Heuchan
Cooranbong, NSW, Australia
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June
R.P. composes himself amidst the fracas as family foreman. Family togetherness, ranch style. R.P. performs "June" during the "I Just Wanna Be a Comic Cowboy" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
R.P. Smith
Broken Bow, NE
R.P. Smith is a fourth-generation rancher...
