|
Countdown to the Poetry Gathering
In five weeks, thousands will gather for a slice of our heritage By Mike Perry Let's begin the countdown. The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering 2008, set for Feb. 29-March 2, begins five weeks from tomorrow. To help get you in the mood, the Avalanche will offer you stories each week in this space, stories that will give you insights you need to enjoy this Texas-most of events. Capping our lead-in coverage will be a 48-page special section that also serves as the Gathering's official program. This week, we're attempting to give you a comprehensive primer on the Gathering. In future weeks, we'll delve more into the people behind the event. History The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering is part of an American folklore revival that had its beginning in 1985 when Hal Cannon and other folklorists from our western states started the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. The second such event was the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering that was started in 1987 on the campus of Sul Ross State University at Alpine. Other events were started at Prescott, Arizona, in 1988 and in Roswell, N.M., and Lubbock. Poetry gatherings have proliferated around the nation, but Alpine's event has stayed closer to its roots than any of them. Red Steagall says there is a bond that is felt in Alpine among participants, performers, cowboys, fans and volunteers. "We renew old friendships. We expand the cowboy family," he said. "This is a real community of friends. We bless each other with respect. We give our lives more depth and meaning. We poets tell you things we would normally keep to ourselves through our work. Every generation thinks it's going to be the last in the cowboy life, but it endures. This gathering is one reason why." Define cowboy poetry Cowboy poetry, like all poetry, is sometimes hard to define. Wikipedia says it is a "form of poetry which grew out of a tradition of extemporaneous composition carried on by workers on cattle drives and ranches. After a day of work, cowboys would gather around a campfire and entertain one another with tall tales and folk songs. Illiteracy was common, so poetic forms were employed to aid memory." I guess that definition is as good as any. Cowboy poetry does not actually have to be written by cowboys, though adherents would claim that authors should have some connection to the cowboy life so that they can write poetry with an "insider's perspective." Newcomers are surprised to hear cowboy poetry that is contemporary. Many people tend to focus on the historic cowboy lifestyle, but the work that cowboys do continues. The cowboy lifestyle is a living tradition that exists in the western United States and other areas, thus, contemporary cowboy poetry is still being created, still being recited, and still entertaining many camp visitors around campfires and convention halls. Typical themes of cowboy poetry include: € Ranch work and those who perform it € Western lifestyle € Landscape of the American West € Cowboy values and practices € Humorous anecdotes € Memories of times and people long gone € Sarcasm regarding modern contraptions and/or ways Though it deals with those who work with livestock and nature, it would be incorrect to categorize cowboy poetry as pastoral. Cowboy poetry is noted for its romantic imagery, but at no time does it sacrifice realism in favor of it. Few examples of experimental verse are known in cowboy poetry. One argument is that cowboy poetry is meant to be recited and should "sound like poetry." The counter-argument runs that imposing a particular structure on cowboy poetry would move the focus away from the subject matter. Regardless, most cowboy poets stay within more classical guidelines. What is the Gathering? The Gathering was created in 1987 on the Sul Ross campus. It's the oldest event of its kind in Texas. The Gathering exists to promote, preserve and practice an important part of the oral tradition of the American West. In addition to classical, traditional and contemporey cowboy poetry, the event includes presentations of cowboy music and storytelling. All sessions are on the Sul Ross campus on Friday and Saturday. Daytime sessions are free. A stage performance is held each night and a nominal admission is charged. The Gathering is paid for by donations, which go to reimburse the participants and is administered by a volunteer committee. Fast Facts Name: Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering Where: Sul Ross main campus and the area owned by Sul Ross that is called Poet's Corner. This area is in back of the radio station and east of Alpine High School. Who to contact: committee@cowboy-poetry.org On line: www.cowboy- What they say "Like the 20 gatherings before it, this year's 21st annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, held at Sul Ross University Campus in Alpine, was a weekend of fun, reunions, poetry, music, cowboy trappings, and high times. Steering committee members Bill Brooks, Chuck Jividen, Joel Nelson, Nelson Sager, Michael Stevens, Betty Tanksley and Jerry Yarbrough are onto a successful festival formula made up of 50% entertainment, 50% family reunion and 50% serendipity (this is Texas, after all, where even the math is bigger.)" € Western Life "When cowboy poetry began its resurgence 20 years ago, I was a 'successful' Nashville song writer so I thought I could crank out poems with the snap of my fingers. I didn't pay attention to meter. I settled for sympathetic (slant) rhyme ... because I knew I could get away with that kind of writing in music. But what works in music isn't always the same as what works in poetry. There are three non-negotiables in poetry: Original thought. Meter. Rhyme. And to paraphrase John Deere when he started his farm machinery business: 'I'll never put my name on something that's not the result of the best in me.' That goes for cowboy poetry as well as anything else I do in life." € Red Steagall "I grew up around cattle and horses on old family land in the deep, rolling hills of northeast Texas. Early on, I learned how to work and developed a love of the land and an appreciation of tradition and history that is with me yet. I love nothing better than to be horseback in good country." € Bob Campbell, Kilgore "As a small child I already knew I wanted to be a cowboy. I never wanted to cook or be penned up indoors ... due to some misguided quirk of fate I've spent a lot more time cookin' for cowboys than cowboyin'. I even got loco enough to enjoy it. About the time my ranch and pack outfit years ended, along came cowboy poetry gatherings and some of the most satisfying friendships of my life." € Audrey Hankins, Congress, Ariz. "Humor has always been a great part of the cowboy poetry genre. But those critics who say that is all cowboy poetry is, need to dig a little deeper. They might be surprised at what they find." € Clay Isaacs, Eagar, Ariz. "Still, my most favorite thing is sitting around, singing with my family - old and young," € Karen McGuire, Alpine What to do You will never be a loss for something to do during the Gathering. For instance: € Standing Room Only: Daytime sessions run concurrently in nine different locations throughout the Sul Ross campus. It takes some effort to trek from building to building, read the map, find the right staircase, and get situated. When you're a poet dashing across campus to the next set, you think, "Who the heck is going to find this classroom?" - only to arrive (out of breath) to a room jammed to capacity, every seat taken, folks standing and sitting on steps and in the aisles. € Night Shows: The evening shows are emceed by and feature people who fit the Texas Gathering. Yes, they are headliners, but it's also true to say that in Alpine, the only "stars" are the ones that shine bright at night deep in the heart of Texas. There's an uncomplicated, authentic feeling here where it's all about community and family. Like everything else during Texas Gathering week, the folks who run the Gathering have made a conscious decision to avoid glitz and glamour and concentrate on such things as handshakes, hugs and camaraderie. € Trappings of Texas: The Museum of the Big Bend has moved to a new location in the newly renovated, old University Center. What a spacious, spectacular space in which to display the best in cowboy fine art and craftsmanship. € Jam Sessions: Yes, the official program is long and exciting. But don't forget, there's every chance that you'll stumble across an informal Friday and/or Saturday night jam session. Keep your eyes and ears open for when and where and who. The Headliners This year, you'll be able to enjoy Charley Chambers, R.P. Smith, Michael and Dawn Moon and the Gillette Brothers. Here's a bit of info about each: € Charley Chambers was born in Hominy, Okla., 100 (more or less) years ago and has lived most of his life in the Pawhuska, Okla., area. After high school, he was offered a football scholarship to Oklahoma State University, but turned it down because he didn't realize the OSU fed the athletes ... so he joined the Marines for three squares a day. After leaving the Marines, made up his mind that all he wanted to do was be a cowboy. And so he was and still is. He retired as a foreman of the Ferguson Ranch in 2000 and continues to run his own cattle in Chautauqua County, Kansas. Charley has been reciting poetry, singing songs and storytelling for years; honing his skills and presentation to his horse, Sandy, while out on the range. € Gillette Brothers. Since taking over the running of the family ranch in 1983, the Gillette Brothers, Guy and Pipp, have found that diversification is not only a necessity, it keeps things interesting. Their involvement in the cattle business as well as music business -- both as performers and music venue operators -- proves challenging. The revitalization of cowboy music and poetry in recent years has allowed the brothers to combine their lifelong interest in the history of the West and its music with their experience. They have recorded and released six albums of traditional cowboy music interspersed with a few originals. In August 2005, the Gillette Brothers traveled to Japan representing the state of Texas at the World Expo - Aichi/Nagoya, performing their music at the US Pavilion. The Gillette Brothers have been profiled with feature articles in: Texas Highways, Texas Monthly, the Dallas Morning News, Southern Living and the Houston Chronicle. The Gillette Brothers were recipients of the 2003 and the 1998 Will Rogers Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Advancement of Contemporary Cowboy Music-Best Duo/Group by the Academy of Western Artists. They have also received the National Cowboy Symposium's American Cowboy Culture Chuck Wagon Award. The Gillette Brothers run the Camp St. Cafe & Store in Crockett, Texas, a live music venue that has featured some of the top performers in the country. € R.P. Smith is the fourth generation to raise cattle on the Pinecrest Ranch in Custer County, Nevada. Pinecrest Ranch marked its centennial in 2006. R.P. says that it still isn't a real big place, he just comes from a long line of stubborn and persistent people. The commentary and poetry that R.P. shares are a byproduct of the beef industry, and have been processed by reciting for ruminates, relatives and ranchers. R.P.'s material is inspired by his family and what's going on at the ranch, giving his work an authenticity and down-to-earth quality that strikes a familiar chord with his audiences, regardless of their occupation. He has found that humor, and a firm faith that God is in control, are mighty important tools to have when life takes an unexpected turn. Among the biggest unexpected turns in R.P.'s life have been the many opportunities he has had to present his stories and poetry. He has had the opportunity to share his talent in 16 states and has even slipped over the border into Canada. He is always glad to get back home and wait for the next inspiration to come; when he is stricken with a new idea he tries it out on his wife, the dogs and replacement heifers, and when he wants a tough audience, his six children. € Michael and Dawn Moon live on the 87,000-acre Chico Basin Ranch, south of Colorado Springs, where Michael is manager, with their four young children. Dawn is originally from Ohio and Michael is from California, with his ranching roots in northeastern New Mexico. They met and were married in Clark, Colorado, where they worked on both cattle and guest ranches. They have since served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador, and Michael has managed cattle ranches near Kremmling, Colo., Malta, Montana, and Santa Fe, N.M. Michael has been writing music since he was a teenager and most often performs with his guitar, though he also plays piano and banjo. Dawn's instrument throughout her life has been her voice. A blessing in 13 years of marriage has been the development of blending their voices in music and performing that music for others. They have two recordings and love to perform Michael's original songs, as well as some of the classics of Western music and other genres. Bits and pieces Where do these people come from? Well, a perusal of the guest list indicates that the performers for this year's Gathering come from just about every smallish place in the West - and a few somewhat big places (if you consider Amarillo big). For instance, we draw people from Fort Davis, Alpine, Ovalo, Texas, Shoshoni, Wyo., Rydal, New South Wales, Canutillo, Cimarron, N.M., Aledo, Marathon, Cottonwood, Ariz., Warren County, Iowa, Timberon, N.M., Leakey, Wickenburg, Ariz., Driftwood, Eagar, Ariz., Clearfield, S.D., Medina, Lake County, Ore., Coleman County, Van Horn, somewhere in Montana, Comanche, Kilgore, and a bunch more exotic locations. ... € Kip Calahan of Animas, N.M., has shared the stage with an interesting group of performers, including Alabama, The Judds, Merle Haggard, Ian Tyson and Baxter Black. ... € John Campbell's ancestors came from Ireland to South Texas in 1834 to settle on land granted to them by the Mexican government, located on the Nueces River near the present town of George West, which was named after an early Texas trail driver and rancher. He is proud to say that a portion of that land is still held by family members after 170 years. ... € Patty Clayton has four nominations for Western Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists, as well as a 2003 Album of the Year nomination for her release, "Just a Little Bit Cowgirl". ... € Roger Chaison is a graduate of Sul Ross State University and really enjoys returning to Alpine and "Harvard on the Hill." ... € Best comment from a participant: "I was born at a very early age in Harris County, Texas. I spent the first 21 years of my life there and never once felt completely dry, so each time I moved, I ended up further west from the coast," from Doug Foshee of Alpine. ... .For accommodation details, please visit the Alpine Texas - Where to Stay website: http://www.alpinetexas.com/accommodations.html. Do so quickly because motels and hotels fill up quickly. ... € The commemorative spurs for the 22nd Gathering in 2008 will be crafted by Cotton Elliott.. This fourth-generation Texas cowboy has been making spurs for 10 years. His work has been shown in "Trappings" shows in Flagstaff, Elko, Alpine and Cody. Forged in one piece of carbon steel and overlaid with sterling silver, his spurs are both functional, sturdy and a work of art. ... € Jeff Gore of Coleman County was named the Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists in 1997. He has appeared in movies with Tommy Lee Jones, Sissy Spacek and Farah Fawcett, among others, and has appeared in commercials for Maxwell House coffee and Chevy trucks. ... € Alpine's Kay Kelley recited one of her poems on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson but says she much prefers the down-home atmosphere and authenticity of the traditional gatherings. ... € Glenn Moreland of Fort Davis, fiddle player extraordiaire, received the Will Rogers Award for Chuckwagon of the Year in 1997. Who pays the freight? The Gathering could not succeed with out the plethora (great word, huh?) of sponsors and underwriters. They include: $5,000 and over: West Texas National Bank $500 "Sponsor a Poet" Program: Jim and Julie Nowell, Kay Burnett, Longhorn Registry Special thanks: Sul Ross State University; City of Alpine; McDonald's; Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis and Marathon chambers of commerce; Alpine Avalanche Others: Edith and Gary Decocq, Johnny and Lola Griffiths, Twin Peaks Liquors, One Way Plant Nursery, Big Bend Saddlery, Jim Bones, Pauline and Patricia Hernandez, Sul Ross State University Art Department, Double Diamond Gang, Glenn Moreland, Kit Haddock, Dennis Ditmanson, Justin Yarbrough, John Blackman, Neil Mangum, Tom Mangrem, Mike Capron, Jerry Yarbrough, La Casita Restaurant, Sonic, FoodBasket, Baeza's, Ben E. Keith The Gathering is also recognizing the Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry in its ninth year of attendance. The Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry supports the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering by preserving part of the history of this great nation. The organization's efforts to perpetuate the breed of cattle that made our ancestors' livelihood -- and were driven up trails that spawned legends, poetry and songs -- are appreciated by today's cattlemen and spark the imagination of us all. Stop by the Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry's display outside the University Center. Folks are welcome to take pictures. Protesters heatedly oppose planned border wall cindyperry@alpineavalanche.com Countdown to the Poetry Gathering In five weeks, thousands will gather for a slice of our heritage School report card goes to board Superintendent's contract renewed mikeperry@alpineavalanche.com Hello, I'll be your waitperson tonight. Ashley Tandy, daughter of David Tandy, the Sul Ross Lady Lobos head coach, is ready with a tray of energy drinks as players take a timeout Saturday. Ashley is a regular at her dad's home games. Looking on is assistant coach Rockland Owens. |
| Subscribe | Health News | Financial News | Entertainment | Home |