A tale of a mischievous and boastful cowboy known for his roping skills and brawling prowess. Ernie Fanning recites "Yavapai Pete" by Curley Fletcher at the 10th Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. On the web at arts.gov.

ABOUT TH...

In this vintage video Bruce tells the tale of a braggart cowboy. Bruce Simpson recites "The Skite" at the 5th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Bruce Simpson
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Bruce Simpson is originally from western Queensland. He was a drover in the last of the ...

A gem from the Grand Dame of cowboy poetry. Elizabeth Ebert recites "He Talked About Montana" at the 10th 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

Elizabeth Ebert
Thunder Hawk, SD
Elizabeth Eb...

Joel shares a poem written by the poet and singer Buck Ramsey. Joel Nelson recites "Anthem" during the "Texas Poets" show at the 10th 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

Joel Nels...

"Cowboy Poets" was produced in 1988 at the beginning of the cowboy poetry revival. Kim Shelton wanted to make a documentary that would show cowboy poets from different regions of the West, from different generations, and guys that both wrote their own poems, and those whose talent was based in th...

Drum tells a hilarious tale of self reliance gone wrong...or maybe right.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. On the web at arts.gov.

Drum Hadley recites "A Colt .45 and a Chili Queen" during the very first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985. Drum was a longt...

Waddie gives advice to his eldest son. Waddie Mitchell performs, "What Will I Tell Him" during the "Cowboy Jubilee" show at the 10th 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

Waddie Mitc...

Baxter with a long one 'for the boys in the rodeo.' Baxter Black performs his "Legacy of a Rodeo Man" during the "Colorado Poets" session at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985 (in 2000, the event was renamed the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering by an official act of Congress).

This projec...

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...

Buck's renowned epic prologue is a moving, soul-stirring anthem to the good and the true. Buck Ramsey performs his "Anthem" at the 7th 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

Buck Ram...

Georgie will let you know what makes a top hand a top hand. Georgie Sicking performs "To Be A Top Hand" during the "The Gather Begins" show at the 10th 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...

Buck will hold you rapt with this lament, a meditation on loss of range and loss of life. Buck Ramsey performs "The Last Wagon" during the "Favorite Cowboy Songs: A Cappella and Otherwise" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

This project is supported in part by the National Endow...

Paul shares his reverence for Grammy, the grange hall gourmand. Paul Zarzyski performs "Escorting Grammy to the Potluck Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed at Bowman's Corner" during "The Gather Begins" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

This project is supported in part by the National ...

J.B. brings his timbre to this famous cowboy poem about misjudging the spirit of an outlaw. J.B. Allen recites "The Strawberry Roan" by Curley Fletcher during the "Curley Fletcher in Poetry and Song" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

This project is supported in part by the Nat...

Wally ponders the big questions with serious cowboy philosophy in one of his most well-known poems. Wallace McRae performs his "Reincarnation" during the "Montana Poets" session at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985 (in 2000, the event was renamed the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering by an...

Gary rolls through this rundown without a hitch, but with plenty of savvy. Gary McMahan performs "A Cowboyin' Day" during "An Evening of Cowboy Poetry, Music and Entertainment" at the 5th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts....

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 ...

Joel delivers this devastating heartbreak of a poem with dash and danger and life and love. Joel Nelson recites "Lasca" by Frank Desprez during the "Cowboy Classics" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. On t...

Yula Sue shares a mighty classic with a smooth voice and a shy smile in this vintage video. Yula Sue Hunting recites "The Bronco Twister's Prayer" by Bruce Kiskaddon during the "Classic Cowboy Recitations" session at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering (in 2000, the event was renamed the National C...