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Ask a Cowboy Poet: First Memorized Poem

Even if the lines of a memorized poem begin to fade, the feeling of the poem persists. This month, we ask the cowboy poets a question posed by a nurturer of storytelling and rhyme, Mother Goose, “What was the first poem you committed to memory, cowboy or otherwise, and why has it stayed with you?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: Spring on the Ranch

The first markers of spring are meaningful when you work close to the land. This month, as we inch closer to greener pastures and longer days, the cowboy poets share spring-inspired poems as varied as the season itself as they answer this question, “What’s a spring moment on the ranch that has stayed with you long enough to become a poem?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: Animal Inspiration

From beloved horses to ornery cows, this month the cowboy poet columnists reflect on the memorable animals in their lives that inspired a poem.

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: Cow Town State of Mind Community

In this month's Ask a Cowboy Poet column, the cowboy poets talk about a person who is part of their Cow Town State of Mind community alongside their family and crew. And, we want you to answer the question too!

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: Stage Superstitions

This month, the cowboy poets discuss their pre-show rituals that help them reign in uncertainty and corral confidence as they answer the reader-submitted question, “Do you have any habits or superstitions that are part of your pre-performance routine?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: Wrangling Rhymes

This month, the cowboy poets give tips and tricks for wrangling rhymes as they answer this question, “How do you find your rhyme? Are there any tools or tricks that you turn to when the rhymes aren't coming?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Memorable Gathering Moments"

This month, the cowboy poets gather some of the most meaningful moments from their time in Elko as they answer this question asked by Feeling Nostalgic, “Could you describe a uniquely memorable moment you experienced at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Seasonal Change"

This month, the cowboy poets describe their observations of the fall season as they answer this question posed by Feeling like Fall, “How does the land, and the animals you surround yourself with, change as the days get shorter and darker?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Distilling Vast Vistas"

This month, the cowboy poets whittle down a wide question about their writing as they answer this quandary asked by @carteagraphy, "How do you distill the vastness of the vistas you encounter into the slim space of a poem?"

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Transition Planning"

This month, the cowboy poets mull over a dilemma “as old as human fingernails” as they answer a question about transition planning for generational ranches.

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "When Inspiration Strikes"

This month, the poets are asked a question by another poet. Jonathan Odermann asks, “"When inspiration strikes...what is the silliest, strangest, or otherwise most unconventional way you've managed to record a poem before it escaped your consciousness?"

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Ornery Cow"

Tipping over horses, caving in the sides of pickups, and charging to kill. While most range cows get ornery every once in a while, some of them become legendary for their temper. This month, the cowboy poets answer Cowpoke’s question, “What’s a story about the most ornery cow you ever came across?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Sound vs Imagery"

This month, the cowboy poets reflect on the crucial sensory ingredients that combine to make memorable poetry as they answer this question posed by @carteagraphy: “How much do you think about the sound/music versus the imagery of your poem?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Artistic License"

This month, the cowboy poets discuss artistic license in poems as they answer a question posed by The Man Who Didn’t Shoot Liberty Valance: “Could you comment on how you approach decisions about taking artistic license in your writing? Also, could you comment on any historical poems you’ve researched where you’ve found the legend has outpaced the truth or the truth is in fact stranger than fiction?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Best Canines"

Whether they’re herding, heading, guarding…or sharing a beer at the end of a long day…some dogs just make an impression. This month, the poets reflect on the cattle dogs (and companion dogs) that have come their way, answering Crazy About Canines’ question, “Who was the best canine companion you ever had the pleasure of working with?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Favorite Destinations"

This month, the cowboy poets talk about that rarest of cowboy words…vacation!…in answer to Seeing the World’s question, “Where are some of your favorite destinations cowboy poetry has taken you to?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Endearing Lines"

This month, the cowboy poets share “endearing lines” that have stood out to them, garnering affection in their memories and their hearts. Wishing I Had Written That writes, “‘Endearing lines seem to surface in all great poems. Their importance is immediately recognizable and often compels one to commit them to memory. Could you comment on a few specific lines from a poet whose work endeared themselves to you?”

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Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Old-fashioned skills?"

This month, the columnists shoulder a weighty question about the knowledge imparted through learning “old-fashioned” skills. They seem in agreement that such skills aren’t “old-fashioned,” but rather, as Bill might say, simply “mind-boggling” to most.

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