Cowboy Poetry Matters: From Abilene to the Mainstream: Contemporary Cowboy Writing

by Robert McDowell (Editor)

In his groundbreaking essay "Can Poetry Matter?" (reprinted here), Dana Gioia suggested that many types of poetry, assumed by some readers to be marginal art, should not so easily be deleted from mainstream American literature. Throughout the twentieth century, perhaps no important writing has been as seriously -- and mistakenly -- overlooked by the literati as Cowboy poetry. Essentially connected to the folk tale, to legend, myth, the ballad, and song, and vitally enhanced by the contemporary voices of independent ranch women, Cowboy poetry vividly connects us to our past and our fragile, threatened natural environment. The writers included here, both working horse-and-cattle people and mainstream authors, share the brand of bold expression and independent thought found only among the best literary artists. Here is not literary theory. Here is literary life. An anthology as diverse as America herself!

Genres: Poetry

274 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Dearheaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont usually rate/review poetry on here because i dont think its entirely possible. How do you summarize a collection of poems and essays in such a short space?
'Cowboy Poetry Matters' is a collection of contemporary cowboy writing, with an incredible title that references Dana Gioia's essay 'Can Poetry Matter?', which is included towards the end of the book.
I have been chipping away at this for a couple of weeks during slow shifts (and am currently writing this review hunched behind a pastry display case, trying to hide my phone from the watchful gaze of customers), and there have been moments when ive had to ring someones iced latte up with tears in my eyes. Particularly there was one instant, when after reading Linda Mccarriston's 'Le Coursier De Jeanne D'Arc' that a customer hesitated in front of the counter when walking into the store, tiny toddler in hand, and asked me if i was alright. I dismissed her concern, blaming it on the dust or the espresso grounds in the air, and she continued her shopping while i fought back tears. How could i, with my best customer service smile, recite to her the line ''Because you know that story, so old that story, the routine story, carried to its extreme, of the cruelty that can make of what a woman hears a silence'', without bursting into tears immediately. The symbolism that they burned her horse first- ''she had no son for them to burn, for them to take from her in the world not of her making and put to its pyre''- its so genuine and heartbreaking. A deep connection with ones horses is often stated in cowboy poetry: in Paul Zarzyski's 'Buck' he writes in the beginning, ''The December my horse died, I did not go to midnight mass to celebrate with a single sip of wine Christs birth.'' And the. he goes on to recall a story of a time said horse got spooked, and how he ''left me on all fours as he did on that Christmas- high-lonesomed, hurt, and howling not one holy word toward the bones.'' Theres another poem or post that i cant quite remember the exact wording of, but i remember that it was a grandfather speaking about his horse from when he was young. When prompted about what the horses name was, the grandfather said ''Just a horse. My horse.'' Or something along those lines.
It reminds me of the horse we had when i was younger. I dont quite remember her name, sandy or brownie or some other name thats been given to pets for decades. I didnt like her all that much, didnt like horses in general. My younger sister attended to her much more then i did, and i would often watch her through the living room window, walking sandy and her foal through the little corrall we had in the front yard. There was one day when i was alone in the house and particularly melancholy, so i decided to visit her. Her foal shied away from me, wary of someone he didnt know- but sandy, to my surprise, let me walk right up to her and pet her nose. Theres something about horses when you get right up close to them- their large, dark eyes, their long eyelashes, their warm skin pressed against your palm- it makes you feel understood. It makes you feel like they can read your mind, or understand your words, or like they somehow connect with you in some insurmountable, unspeakable way.
Anyways, this collection was incredible. This review doesnt have much of substance, nothing more then my strange feelings about horses, but still, if youre reading this, at least read Dana Gioia's essay 'Can Poetry Matter?' and Linda Mccarriston's 'Le Coursier De Jeanne D'Arc', which are my two favorite pieces in this book. Also, 'What The Falcon Said' by Linda M. Hasselstrom, which is also just an incredible poem.
Im ending this with the same line that the poetry section of the book ended on:

'-not one speck of simplistic myth
between us and the west that was, sometimes
still is, and thus will be
forever and ever, amen.'

(One Sweet Evening Just This Year, by Paul Zarzyski)

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can poetry matter? Poet Dana Gioia raises and answers this question in his essay reprinted in this book. He argues that when poets took jobs in academia teaching creative writing, the practice of poetry criticism languished, allowing good poetry to be lost in a flood of the mediocre. While more poetry is being published now than ever, its audience has shrunk, and it no longer plays a role in the great public discourse on meaning and values in American culture.

Working against this trend, however, is the increasing popularity of cowboy poetry, with its growing audience of people who gather annually at cowboy poetry festivals across the country, including the granddaddy of them all in Elko, Nevada, now in its 21st year. Mostly unschooled in poetics, the writers of this poetry are cowboys, ranchers (both male and female), and others whose lives are informed by Western traditions. The spirit driving this output surely goes back to the nineteenth century, when cowboys entertained themselves and each other inventing and reciting doggerel verse about their daily lives and the things that mattered most to them.

Rooted as the West is in the rural past, its poetry often seems to come straight from the bedrock of essential American values and national character. Thus its appeal to many who can't relate to the ambiguities, ironies, and self-indulgence of more modern forms of literature. This volume of poems and essays tries to give cowboy poetry legitimacy as literature worthy of the attention it receives. And for the most part, it is successful.

Two of my favorite poets, rancher Wallace McRae and rodeo rider Paul Zarzisky, both from Montana, are represented in this anthology. Each pushes the envelope, creating poems that treat unexpected subjects (strip mining, racial discrimination) and depart from the standard abab rhyme scheme, four beats to the bar. Another favorite, poet and writer Linda Hasselstrom, from South Dakota, is also here. And I was taken by the wonderful, more personal poems of Californian Linda Hussa. Altogether there are 20 poets (including a few from the mainstream: Maxine Kumin, Donald Hall), each writing in distinctive styles, illustrating the range and vitality of this new-old cowboy tradition.

I loved this book and happily recommend it to anyone with an interest in the West and a curiosity about how poetry might once again speak to more of us.

[Jared Mattson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really like poetry that much so I didn't enjoy reading this book full of different poems. I will admit though, there are some in that book that are pretty good but overall it was just super boring to me. But if i had to rate it compared on other poetry books and things like that I would say it was alright, it was okay not great but not bad either. I wouldn't really recommend it unless you absolutely love poetry.