(Image copyright, Lincoln Rogers. may not be copied or used without written permission from Lincoln Rogers)
I sure do like good cowboy poetry. Every now and then, I try my hand at writing some, and with a fair amount of success, but there is some excellent cowboy poetry out there just waiting to be discovered by those interested in sharing history, tall tales, and downright belly laughs.
Good cowboy poetry does more than just rhyme. Heck, just about anybody can make a rhyme. What makes an excellent cowboy poem is the images it conveys and the meter of the piece. A well-written poem flows like the words and phrases were made to be formed just that way. You know it when you read it.
The best cowboy poetry on the planet can be found at CowboyPoetry.com. It is a fantastic website that boasts "the world's largest collection of cowboy poetry". Take a peek at it, you won't be disappointed.
Now, I'm not the be-all-end-all of cowboy poetry experts - I'll leave that to the good folks over at CowboyPoetry.com - but I do have a few favorites who I enjoy reading. Pat Richardson has got to be one of the most talented poets ever at creating unbelievably funny images and tales within the constraints of a cowboy poem. You'll laugh the Stetson right off your head, I guarantee it.
Though we've never met personally, I consider Rod Nichols a Pard, and he has a God-given talent for taking words and crafting them in just the right way, and with just the right sentiment. Whether it is humor, sentimental, patriotic, religious, etc., Rod Nichols nails it each and every time. You can read his, and other poets, fine work in action on Rod's cowboy poetry board. While you are there, make sure you read some of Bruce Satta's lyrical wordsmithing and Glen Enloe's fine work. You won't be disappointed.
That brings me to another favorite of mine. Mr. Hal "Nevada" Swift. Hal has a gift for taking a small slice of life and creating a poem that will make you smile... every single time. His talent for finding the perfect rhythm and meter for each of his poems is downright mind-boggling. If you like to be entertained by whimsical slices of cowboy and western-related life, Hal is your man. I have the privilege of calling him my Pard as well.
I know I'm leaving out the names of some mighty fine cowboy poets, but I don't have the space to list them all. Why don't you chime in and let us know the names of some of your current favorites? I'd love to hear from ya!
Lincoln
4 comments:
Howdy Lincoln! It's a tall order to start naming favorite poets, because there are so many great ones. In addition to all of those you mentioned, I always look forward to reading your work! Darin Brookman also immediately comes to mind.
Thanks for sharing, Bruce. And thanks for the nice compliment. It's always a good thing to compliment the owner of the blog! It keeps everyone happy. LOL!!!
I'll have to check out Darin Brookman. I enjoy how you put words together to form some great imagery in your poems. If you like Brookman, I probably will as well.
Stop by again real soon, Pard. I'd love to hear from ya again.
Lincoln
www.lincolnrogers.com
http://best-of-the-west.blogspot.com
Gee, Linc. For a minute there, I thought you were talkin' about someone else. Thank you for the kind words.
Hal Swift
No problem, Hal. I meant every word.
(You can wire the money to the account number I gave you earlier...)
Lincoln
Post a Comment