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Cowboy Poetry

Lyric and Short Poetic Forms

Cowboy poetry is a form of poetry that grew out of a tradition of cowboys telling stories, though it need not actually be written by a cowboy, so long as its author can claim some genuine connection to the cowboy life. Its poets generally favor classical, rhyming verse over free verse, and its common subjects include ranch work, the western landscape and lifestyle, cowboy values, and humorous anecdotes, celebrated today at events such as the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.

Facts
Notable Example
"The Ride of Paul Venarez" by Eben E. Rexford 1
Defining Trait
Noted for romantic imagery of ranch life while never sacrificing realism in favor of it 1
Sources
1. Cowboy poetry - Wikipedia
  • Authorship section
    One example of a popular 'cowboy poem' written by a non-cowboy is 'The Ride of Paul Venarez' by Eben E. Rexford, a 19th-Century freelance author.
  • Style section
    Cowboy poetry is noted for its romantic imagery, but at no time does it sacrifice realism in favor of it.
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