Three new poems have been posted on my website
At Rest Which was inspired by the wonderous, ever-changing landscape of our western lands.
Cowboy Luck Which was inspired by a sort of challenge on CowboySyndicate.com.
Western Moon Which was inspired by a Texan, Honcho Crouch (1916-1976), who wrote “Luckenbach Moon”.
» Latest poem: At Rest
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
Entertaining western and cowboy poetry readings are available to Northwestern organizations…guaranteed entertainment even for folks who say they don’t like poetry! We especially welcome the opportunity to appear at nursing and retirement homes.
Although honoraria are welcome, there is no charge except for reimbursement of actual expenses.
Information about recent appearances is posted on my website.
» Latest poem: Prairie Land
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
We’re gonna have to change our clocks early Sunday morning because some idiots think you can put daylight in a savings account. It’s pretty silly…tryin’ to save daylight is like cutting a foot off of one end of a blanket and sewing it on the other end so you’ll have a longer blanket! Out on our ranch our way of handling time was to get up at dawn and go to bed at sunset.
» Latest poem: The Lonely Asterisk
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
Some news folks on TV have gone overboard since they discovered Twitter and other social networks. They invite comment and opinions from the public about news stories. In return, they get uninformed gut reactions from a lot of Twits, many of whom haven’t the foggiest idea about the subject or any of the related social, legal, or technical issues.
The result reminds me of the little first grader who took his pet rabbit to school for show-and-tell. One kid asked, “is it a boy rabbit or a girl rabbit?” No one had an answer so one suggested “let’s vote on it!”
» Latest poem: The Lonely Asterisk
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
We recently returned from a tour in Wyoming. The highlight was a Cowboy Dinner Show sponsored by Open Range Magazine in Glenrock, WY on September 24.
It was my pleasure to be on stage with Michael Martin Murphey, the top western and country singer in the U.S. Other performers at the event were cowboy poets Mason Tibbs, DJ and ranch manager, and Dave P. Fisher, award-winning author and poet.
Photographs taken at the show by Amanda Smith, internationally renowned western photographer,are posted in my Photo Album.
Other events were appearances for Senior Associations in Glenrock and Torrington, WY. Seniors are always a great audience!
» Latest poem: The Lonely Asterisk
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
An article, “Cowboy poet Clark Crouch writes from experience about life on the range,” appeared in the Seattle Times on August 3, 2009 and a longer version is available for view on the internet by clicking here.
The article elicited four comments on the internet. The comments appear below in the order posted and each is followed by a few words of my own, words not intended to be argumentative but rather to place everything in context. The allegorical verse, “On the Other Side,” the poem cited in the comments, which is the lead poem in my most recent book, Views from the Saddle, also appears below.
FunnyPajamas of Sea-Tac, WA wrote: “Oh, please–there isn’t one iota of originality in this “poem.” This kind of stuff belongs on Hallmark Cards, not in newspapers of major U.S. Cities.”
I’d laugh all the way to the bank if the poem were actually on a Hallmark Card. There’s money in them there verses, most probably due to the acceptance of traditional poetry by the general public and its rejection of modern poetry which seems to be most appreciated by a limited audience of modern poets, their peers, and academicians.
And, just to set the record straight, there’s also money in performing cowboy poetry. After all, I just returned yesterday from a 2500-mile trip to Wyoming to perform in three venues, including one to appear on stage with Michael Martin Murphey, the top western and country singer in the U.S.
Gojuryugodan of LaConner, WA wrote: “That kind of nursery rhyme is tedious at best, and a slight to real poets .”
I defer to the following comment, perfect in it’s insight and brevity, for a response.
Fishsalad of Vashon, WA wrote: “I truly enjoyed this article and Mr Crouch’s poetry. I guess “real poetry” is in the New Yorker.”
There is considerable discussion on the definition of poetry…just what is real poetry? The folk poetic tradition, including cowboy poetry, involves the use of consistent rhythm, or meter if you prefer, and true rhyme. Some modern poets of my acquaintance say that the use of meter and rhyme is too difficult to master and have found their forté is in writing free verse, foregoing even blank verse which has a metric structure but without rhyme.
But, perhaps, the real question is whether poetry is alive. For discussion on “the death of modern poetry,” please see the Newsweek article, “Poetry is Dead…Does Anyone Really Care,” and the Atlantic article, “Can Poetry Matter,” by Dana Gioia, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts . The latter is also discussed at some length by Bart Baxter, a renowned Seattle poet, in an article, “Does Poetry Matter? The Culture of Poetry,” published by The Raven Chronicles.
Plainsman1 of Ellensburg, WA wrote: “Unfortunately plains poets like John Neihardt and William Kloefkorn are not mentioned in the article, but that is to be expected since this is about the man as much as the poems. As stated, cowboy poetry is primarily oral. The Western European notion of originality as necessarily “new” is inappropriate to the genre. Nor would a cowboy poet give a corn cob for any critic’s opinion, which is part of its appeal.”
Although I am familiar with Neihardt and Kloefkorn and value their work (after all, they are fellow Nebraskans), my mentor was Charles Badger Clark, the classic cowboy poet, with whom I was acquainted in the early 1940s. My work has also been greatly influenced by Sherman Alexie, a Native American poet, novelist, and screenwriter, who I met in 2001.
The bottom line is that I am personally committed to remembering, preserving, sharing, and celebrating our western and cowboy heritage and the traditions which that heritage embodies.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
On the Other Side
A ridge of hills against the sky,
a won’drous sight to see,
an invitation to explore
this grassy inland sea.
The distant hills all stand in line,
leading a rider on
through a journey of discov’ry
light of a new day’s dawn.
It makes us wonder at such times
“what’s on the other side?”
Seems like there’s always one more hill,
another mile to ride.
When the long journey’s done at last,
the ending of the ride …
topping the crest of that last hill,
we see the other side.
» Latest poem: The Lonely Asterisk
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
Whoever is supposed to be managing the Health Care Reform project is, in the president’s words on another recent occasion, “acting stupidly.”
Although the president has set out the basic tenents for reform, the devil’s in the details and those details are still being wrangled, wrestled, and regurgitated in congress where some five versions of the health care bill, each with it’s own variations and nuances, are under development. It’s a leaderless mess and, to the observer, sorta like watchin’ someone make sausage!
Depite the fact that there is no reform bill at present, members of congress and administration staff were blissfully and blindly sent into the field this month to talk up the program even though they have nothing specific to defend or sell. Sorta like makin’ them stand by a hangin’ tree surrounded by a blood-thirsty crowd which believes these legislators have just stole a whole herd of horses.
And, of course, some of the audiences our congressional leaders face are also acting stupidly. Some elders even figuratively wave their medicare cards while ranting, railing, and raving against government insurance programs. It’s sort of a dog-in-the-manger thing, “I’ve got my government sponsored protection but, by damn, nobody else should have it!” And, oh yes, they’ll believe any lie that the opposition puts forward like the totally untrue allegation that the final bill will send granny to the gallows.
As for this cowboy, he sorta likes the underlying concepts for health care reform and he’d like a program to emerge which will provide efficient, economical, and effective medical coverage for our citizens. Meanwhile, he ain’t gonna tear up his medicare card, that wonderful ticket to government-sponsored insurance, and he’s gonna wait to see the final bill before he starts ranting and raving like his ill-informed neighbor down the street.
» Latest poem: Family Values
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
One of my poems, “Chopin’s Minute Waltz,” has been accepted by Moonrise Press of Los Angeles, California for inclusion in a forthcoming anthology of contemporary poetry, Chopin with Cherries: a tribute in verse, edited by Maja Trochimczyk. The bilingual book, with poems in both English and Polish, is a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Polish pianist-composer, Fryderyk Chopin. Formal presentation of the book is to be at the 3rd International Chopin Congress in Warsaw, Poland, February 24-March 1, 2010.
» Latest poem: Red Prairie Rose
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry
Update 8/21/09: The number of cowboy poetry books now under consideration for the 2009 WMA award has been reduced to four, one of which is my book, Western Images.
The Western Music Association (WMA) is now balloting for a variety of awards one of which is for the best cowboy poetry book of the year. My book, Western Images, which won the 2008 Will Rogers Medallion Award, is one of the six top cowboy poetry books nominated for this year’s WMA award. The winner is expected to be announced in November.
» Latest poem: My Hero, Earl
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle now available!
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry, now available!
Chapbook Cover
A new chapbook, Eight Viewpoints: western poetry, is now available for order through internet and local booksellers.
The book features a poem from each of eight contemporary poets expounding on their individual points of view of western life and culture. The poets are: Virginia Cook (Washington), Steve Dickson (Nevada), Stephen Foster (Texas), Kenneth Garcia (Indiana), Del Gustafson (Washington), Debra Meyer (Indiana), J. Wesley Taylor, Sr. (Washington), and myself.
The cover photo is by Laura Shreck of Colorado.
» Latest poem: My Hero, Earl
» Latest book: Views from the Saddle now available!
» Chapbook: Eight Viewpoints: western poetry, now available!