NATIONAL COWBOY POETRY GATHERING ll

It's been awhile since we posted anything here at Gassaway's Adventures, not because we haven't been doing anything, but I've been lazy and suffering from writers block.  A short update before main story.  We bought a new 4Runner and to go with it a roof top tent.  Here's a short little video on setting it up.  We intend to use it while 4-wheeling enabling us to go further afield.  Our first little trip was to the Arizona Desert, but with bad weather approaching, we only stayed one night.  We opted then to hold up in a apartment in Prescott waiting for the storm to pass.  It dropped 12 inches of snow, so we stayed in Prescott and explored homes for sale as this is a place we may move to in a couple of years.

I along with our son Eric spent 5 days in the Arizona Mountains on a deer hunt.  He did the hunting while I looked for the deer.  On the last day and with the light fading, Eric got his buck.

We are currently in training for another pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.  Cathie wants to finish what she started after pulling up short in 2017.  We head across the pond in April, so stay tuned.

Now for the cowboy stuff:  Last year we attended our first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.  We had such a good time that we just had to go again.  This time, not being the rookies we were last year, we had a better idea of how to approach the many different sessions and shows.  The gathering is put on each year in the winter by the Western Folklife Center.  By joining the Center for the measly sum of $75 for the both of us, we get a discounted rate for the gathering plus the option to buy tickets of the bigger shows before they go on sale to the general public.  Knowing the lay of the land this year, we saw a lot more shows and really enjoyed ourselves for the 4 days we spent at the event.  Not only some great poets, but some great music.  Our new favorite in the music department was Corb Lund and his Hurtin' Albertans, and we really enjoyed the Battle of the Bands show.

Before arriving in Elko we had discussed not going to the gathering again for awhile, but after such a great experience this year, I sure we'll head north again next year.  Here's an example of the kind of poetry one hears at the gathering.  We heard Jessie Smith recite Three Wheeler last year and here's a video made several years ago.

Another favorite of mine is Rodney Nelson who is a poet from North Dakota.  His Bio says that he makes his living rodeoing which has caused him to enjoy a low standard of living.

COWBOY LAUNDRY

           Brides-to-be have much to learn,

   there's more to marriage than joy—
especially if the mate she's found
   is a sure-nuff country boy.

She's no doubt optimistic—
   oblivious to her fate...
The dangers that will come to pass
   she can't anticipate.

She dreams of newborn colts and calves,
   anticipation makes her grin—
But ranch life quickly dims these myths
  and reality sets in.

There's calves to work, cows to feed,
   meals are often late.
Unpaid bills, and drought and dirt
   are things she learns to hate.

It starts when "hubby" saunters in,
   a guy she's never seen unclean—
He's reeking and he's filthy,
   and she thinks it's kinda mean...

When he piles his duds upon the floor
   and gives her a big squeeze,
says "I need clean clothes in the morning,
   so wash these up, if you please."

She's gotta pick them off the floor,
   though the thought makes her kinda sick,
She thinks she sees them crawling,
   so she jabs 'em with a stick!

She's gotta get them to the washer,
   though it fills her heart with dread—
She shuts her eyes and throws 'em in...
   lightness fills her head!

But like a dose of smelling salts,
   the odor jolts this lass,
It's made up of sweat, of grease, or crud—
   and stuff that once was grass!

There's pine-tar too, and branding smoke,
   horse sweat and a drained abscess,
Diesel fuel and scouring calves,
   and a shot of KRS.

But the task is still unfinished,
   as she is well aware,
there's one more chore, for on the floor,
   lies her hubby's underwear!

She's seen some Hitchcock movies,
   storms have caused her awful fright,
But nothing she has seen before
   has prepared her for this sight!

An older, wiser ranchwife
   would read them like a book—
she'd know he'd oiled the windmill,
   and with another look...

She could see old Brownie had thrown him
   by the telltale gumbo mud—
And he'd repaired another prolapse
   'cause the front was stained with blood.

There are countless other stories
   that a cowboy's briefs could share
Like if he had been eating chili
   or had a real bad scare!

But the new bride lacks the knowledge,
   and in her frenzied state,
She grabs them with a plier
   and shows them to her mate.

"Don't jump to conclusions, Hon,
   you know what that stain means...
I wasn't careful where I sat
   and it soaked on through my jeans."

She just can't quite believe it,
   and she's plum filled up with doubt—
She says "If what you say is true, my dear,
   you wore this pair inside out!"

Oh, it won't be long 'til scenes like this
   will be common to the bride—
and countless other problems
   she'll learn to take in stride.

Yes, she'll see her share of troubles
   that the coming years will bring—
But if she can handle COWBOY LAUNDRY,
  she can handle anything!

Well that about does it.  We drove home with an overnight in Minden, Nevada, another place we were considering moving, but with a morning temperature of 7 degrees we just might have to re-think that.