West Word Ho!
The Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association
Is pleased to have sponsored
Cowboy Poetry Writing Workshops
April 24 & May 9 2009
presented by Doris Daley

We came. We metaphored. We alliterated. We revised. We all went home encouraged and inspired, I think, to do at least one or two things better in our writing.

The performance part of cowboy poetry is very social, but the actual writing part is solitary. Just you and the page. Several ACPA members gathered at the Cochrane Library on April 24, and then at the High River library on May 9, to participate in a cowboy poetry writing workshop where we could share ideas, tips, do's and dont's in a friendly forum about the lonely art of writing.

I was privileged to lead the workshop, using notes I have accumulated over the past several years. Echoing Red Steagall's battle cry ("If your name goes on it, it has to be the best poem you can write") and analyzing the works of many great poets...not just cowboy poets...we looked at the techniques of good writing. I like to start out by comparing cowboy poetry to Dancing with the Stars: our is not a judged event but there are similarities. In a dancing competition, the dancers have spent years perfecting their technique so that the creative energy looks effortless.

In good writing, poets have to learn some technique, too....that's what makes it poetry!  Are we using strong verbs, creative word play, fresh metaphors, perfect rhyme? (Baxter Black's FIRST rule in cowboy poetry is that it has to have perfect rhyme and meter!) Are we willing to move from the subjective ("Look at what I wrote!  What a great verse! What a funny ending!" ) to the objective ("This line needs re-writing. These two verses slow down the pacing. I can come up with something better than this cliche.")

At the High River workshop, we started off by writing a few descriptive lines. Two hours later, after studying examples from many great writers, we went back and revised our work. As Buddy Gale said, "The revising never ends. It can go on forever. Writing is just the first step...sometimes you have to re-work four or five lines just to get the sixth line to work."

Folks wanting a crash course on poetry writing should read Rod Miller's essay Fine Lines and Wrinkles at www.CowboyPoetry.com

No cowboy poet has been published more in Western Horseman than Rod. He asks a provocative question: Is there poetry in cowboy poetry? He also encourages all of us to read good poetry. "It amazes me," says Rod, "that folks who call themselves poets don't read poetry. It's like being a farrier and being "so good" that you never have to read a magazine article or trade paper about horse shoeing.

Both at Cochrane and at High River, participants ranged from familiar cowboy poetry friends to brand new fans wanting to learn about our genre. We had about 10 keen, enthusiastic  folks at each event. At both workshops we galloped through the cowboy poetry material and had a bit of time at the end to share some performance tips.

What a joy for me to see many old friends, meet new ones, and have two hours dedicated to the joys (and miseries!) of writing. Thanks to the ACPA who sponsored both events. Depending on interest and feedback, this is definitely something we can do again...the handouts and books are ready, we just have to set a date and location.

West Word Ho, Everybody!

Doris Daley
Cowboy poetry for all occasions and in all weathers
Box 103
Turner Valley Alberta
T0L 2A0
Phone (403) 933-4434
Fax (403) 933-4454