It’s a riddle of rhythms. How much does a horse’s rhythm share with a cowboy’s poetry? And how much does a cowboy share with their horse? Read on for the pros’ answers to this month’s question from Instagram follower @carteagraphy, who asks, “Does your horse's gait affect your writing, and do you read out loud to your horse?”

This month, @fordthejord on Instagram asks, “How do you approach editing? Is a poem ever really done?”

This month, the poets reply to Fern from Ferndale, who asks “How is the current weather situation affecting your spring chores on the ranch? Do you have a favorite spring poem to share?”

This month, we asked Virginia Bennett which poems she might’ve shared if she’d been on stage during the Ask a Cowboy Poet live show.

Hopeful in Yellowstone asks “As you reflect on the past year and look forward to 2023, what are your hopes for the New Year? and do you have any resolutions or lessons learned or traditions that guide you this time of year?” And, the poets answer with their unique brand of hope.

City Slicker asks the poets to “tell us how this time of year on the ranch reflects in your poetry? or in your favorite poems?” Read on as they explain why fall is all the rage with the ranch literati.

An anonymous ask has the panel of poets addressing a defining question—just exactly what constitutes a “cowboy” poem? And how does Robert Service fit into all of this?

The poets are taking us on a trip down memory lane. As they relive their first experiences at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering (now the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering), they also reflect on what the Gathering means to them and to cowboy poetry…and, of course, invoke characters and friends wrapped up in Gatherings past.

Being in the right spot, with the right tools. That’s half the trick, isn’t it? This month, On the Road Again asks the poets a practical, instrumental question: “What writing tools do you use at home? What about when you are on vacation or out on the range?” And they respond with words and photos!

Last month, the poets faced a tough ask about the classics. This month, they grapple with the follow-up question, “What three poems do you think should be considered “new classics” that every cowboy poet (or cowboy poetry lover) should know? What’s the difference to you between classics and new classics?”

If you’re a cowboy poet looking to learn your classics, where might you start? Who better to know a thing or two about all this than the Ask a Cowboy Poet panel? So, we posed them this month’s question from Seeking Out Standards: “What three classic poems do you think every cowboy poet should know, and why?”

This month, Annie asks “What is the one tip you would give to someone just starting to write cowboy poetry?” The pros burst with generous tips for aspiring writers on the cowboy part of the poetry spectrum. And, their advice holds up even if you’re a bit less cowboy. If you’re poised for poetry, read on for tips on tapping into that “something else” that animates words (and life).