Poetry and Music, from the Australian drawl to Columbian intensity!

Cowboy Poetry. What a curious thing!

I remember twenty years ago when John came
home from a business trip to Elko (we were living in
Reno, Nevada, then) and told me he'd heard
cowboy poetry I was mystified.

Why would anyone listen to cowboys reciting poetry?
Visions of sing-songy verses, one after another,
didn't seem like anything John would enjoy.

Now that we live in Elko we're immersed in poetry and
culture gathering up to our eyeballs at the Cowboy
Poetry Gathering in January. I've found the
poetry introspective, funny--a window into
people's souls. They're like me, full of hope, fear,
and struggling with the future.

Paul Zarzyski and Randy Reiman are two of my
favorite poets. Linda Haselstrom and Teresa Jordan,
women weaving stories to build community, gifted
writers.

And music--it's entertwined with the words.

A Columbian band last Monday--Llaneros musica,
music of the plains. Their music what I thought South
American would be. It was more European with guitar-like
instruments and a harp! Really driving, energetic,
and, intense.
Last year, Mongolian guitar and throat singing
which is amazing and other-worldly.

And, a few years ago, I fell in love with Celtic, Irish,
and Scot music. Every year I love to hear the familiar
cowboy music from our own West.

Thursday we'll hear Tom Russell and Andrew
Hardin, and Don Edwards will be around with
with his smooth "Eddie Arnold" croon and guitar.

The best thing about the Gathering is talking about
how others are working through problem areas we
all have no matter where each of us calls home.
We have a Japanese family staying with us this
year, and that's been the best thing about their
stay--comparing how they're meeting challenges,
some of which are the same I face.

I love the Blog on the Western Folklife Center webpage
http://www.westernfolklife.org/site/

I check it every so often for new posts. What a
great idea. If you can't join us at the Gathering join
in the conversation on the Blog!