Cowboy Legacy & Western Ways

July and August bring a host of events: the 22nd Annual Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering in Prescott (August 14-15), the 22nd Annual California Rodeo Gathering in Salinas (July 12), the Calgary Stampede (July 3-12), the National Folk Festival in Butte, Montana (July 10-12), the 7th Annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering in Encampment, Wyoming (July 17-19), Cheyenne Frontier Days (July 18-25), the 29th Annual Texas Ranch Roundup in Wichita Falls, Texas (August 13-16), the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Lewistown (August 14-16) and so many more.

Another big July celebration is the National Day of the Cowboy (July 25), which spawns many events around the country, including at
CowboyPoetry.com, where there is a special "Art Spur." Art Spur invites poetry submissions inspired by original Western art and photography. The 2009 National Day of the Cowboy Art Spur offers an impressive photograph by Tucson photographer Lori Faith Merritt (http://www.photographybyfaith.com/), known by many for her great images from cowboy poetry and music gatherings and her CD design work.

The featured photograph, titled "Heading Out," is an image of octogenarian "cowboy" (the term she prefers) poet, and Cowgirl Hall of Fame honoree Georgie Sicking and Minnesota rancher Sam Scott. Minnesota poet, writer, and rancher Diane Tribitt was present when the photo was taken; Sam is her fiancé and Georgie is her good friend. Diane had written a poem about the day well before the Art Spur was planned:

Headin' Out

Throughout her life she'd been condemned
for havin' cowboy dreams
But she fulfilled her destiny,
enduring all extremes

She lived for ropin' cattle, and
she roped 'em with be best
Tied 't burrows, cows and mustangs,
surpassing every test

She's thankful God has blessed her with
the opportunity;
for cowboys who had taught her and
a mom who'd set her free

to live the life she dreamed of
with horses, cows and rope
as a lady and a cowboy,
on horizons brimmed with hope

She taught her kids to understand
the only life she knew
and blessed them with the gift of being
"you, and only you"

Each time she passed the reins to them
she made sure she was near,
yet far enough away from them
they wouldn't sense her fear

She has loved some horses dearly
and disliked quite a few
She has lived by cowboy ethics
Honest, loyal, tried and true

Though she is blind, now, she still sees
what some refuse to see
for her soul was borne of nature
and her spirit's proud and free

She was born to be a cowboy
and there ain't any doubt,
When most old hands are headin' in
they'll meet her, headin out

© 2009, Diane Tribitt, All rights reserved

Diane's poem, "Half the Hand," also inspired by Georgie Sicking, is on The BAR-D Roundup: Volume Four (2009)" from CowboyPoetry.com. Diane is a popular performer, who has been featured at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and many other events. She's also the Senior Executive Editor of the late "I.M. Cowgirl" magazine. Her latest CD is Ranchin' Rhymes. Read more about Diane Tribitt and her poetry at http://www.dianetribitt.com/.

You'll find hometown cowgirl Cora Wood at the 7th Annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering in Encampment, Wyoming (July 17-19). Cora has earned a reputation for her confident stage presence and her poetry, singing, and yodeling...at age 7. And when time permits, she's out working cows with her father.

Here's one of Cora's poems:

Chester

      Giddyup Chester, We're gonna be late.
      We're helpin' Dad move cows today,
      And he's waitin' at the gate.

      Chester is my good pony.
      Kind of short, but really fast!
      Today, he'd move a whole lot faster
      If he'd just get his head out of the grass!

      © 2007, Cora Wood, All rights reserved

You'll also find Cora featured at the Arizona Cowboy Poetry Gathering in August, performing with her mother, singer and musician Laurie Wood. Cora
Wood has a new CD, "Cora's Cowgirl Yodel" (with a design by Lori Faith Merritt). Find more about Cora and the CD at http://www.woodwesternmusic.com/.
 

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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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