Bar-D Oct 2009: Janice Gilbertson and the Rhymers Rodeer
The year may be winding down, but events and festivals are going strong in November. To name just a few: the 15th Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Buckaroo Fair in Heber City, Utah; Arizona's Tombstone Western Music Festival; the Annual Cowpoke Fall Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering in Loomis, California; Colorado's Grand Junction Cowboy Poetry Gathering; the 21st Annual Western Music Association Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the 3rd Annual Columbia Gorge Cowboy Gathering in The Dalles, Oregon; the 1st Annual Cat Spring Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering; and the 22nd Annual Rhymers Rodeer in Minden, Nevada.
California poet and writer Janice Gilbertson will be in Minden (joined by Rod McQueary, Walt "Bimbo" Cheney, and Rush Creek; November 6-7 at the Carson Valley Inn). Janice, who has lived all of her life on a piece of paradise in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains on the west side of the Salinas Valley, comments, "Wouldn't life be grand if we could each be doing the work we know and love every day, and have the comfort that comes in knowing that we are exactly where we are meant to be." And that's what inspired this poem:
Maybe It's Your Callin'
Maybe it's that certain way
Early morning smells in June
The fragrance of the damp leftover heat
Maybe it's the rise and fall
Of golden dust at dawn
From the milling of the saddlehorse's feet
It could be the slap of leather
The jangle of the bridle chains
The cadence of the hoofbeats down the lane
There's that friendly cowboy banter
And the planning of the gather
Some spittin' and some razzin' to sustain
There's the frolic of the cowdogs
In their rough and tumble glory
There's the quiver of excitement in a mount
In the mid-light of the coming
Of the sunlight o'er the ridge
Maybe that is what it's really all about
Then there's that swagger on your jog
And that ole sense of satisfaction
You can get when you bring in that ornery stray
And when you water at the crossin'
Give your horse a little rub
Maybe that would be the best time of your day
Ah! Maybe it's the headin' home
Followin' your shadow
Anticipatin' supper and your bed
Maybe it's the certain way
The night air smells in June
Or a hundred things that never could be said
Could be the knowin' where you fit
That easy comfort in your soul
Like that ole saddle that you ride most every day
Just maybe it's your callin'
Or, you were just born lucky
Cuz you know you couldn't live no other way
© 2008, Janice Gilbertson, All rights reserved
Janice Gilbertson makes her third invited appearance to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in January, 2010. Her book, Sometimes in the Lucias, was a runner up for the prestigious Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. It's available for $17 postpaid from Janice Gilbertson, PO Box 350, King City, Ca 93930; kiger@onemain.com.
There's poetry and information about hundreds of cowboy poets and Western musicians at CowboyPoetry.com. It's an on-going gathering, with continuous news, features, event calendars, the best in classic and contemporary cowboy poetry and Western music lyrics, and an e-newsletter.
The BAR-D Roundup: Volume Four CD includes poems recited by J.B. Allen, Jerry A. Brooks, Allen Clark, Ken Cook, Doris Daley, Elizabeth Ebert, Gail I. Gardner, DW Groethe,Yvonne Hollenbeck, Linda Kirkpatrick, Jo Lynne Kirkwood, Slim McNaught, Larry McWhorter, Rod Miller, Dick Morton, Jane Morton, Andy Nelson, Joel Nelson, Rodney Nelson, Ray Owens, Buck Ramsey, Pat Richardson, Randy Rieman, Georgie Sicking, Jesse Smith, Jay Snider, Gail Steiger, and Diane Tribitt, with a PSA by Baxter Black. Learn more at CowboyPoetry.com.
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