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Poetry, Stories and More, below something new every day
Special Silent Auction bidding closed
Christmas Links and News updated 12/24
Gift Ideas; Christmas Picks for 2007 (separate page)
Western Christmas Books and Music (separate page) updated 12/13
Poetry, Classic and New and Old Favorites
See our 2007 Christmas Cowboy Poetry below
See a complete list with links to all the holiday poems posted starting in 2000 here.
You can view the yearly collections of classic and modern Christmas Cowboy Poetry from previous years: 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, and 2000.
Special Silent Auction
We were pleased and honored to have a Silent Auction for a pair of handcrafted Pete Bennett vintage-style spurs and three books written by and edited by poet and writer Virginia Bennett.
Proceeds from the Silent Auction benefit the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry, which sponsors CowboyPoetry.com, Cowboy Poetry Week, the Rural Library Project, and all of our activities.
Bidding ended December 18. Thanks to all who took part.
Read more here.
Christmas Art Spur
Our Christmas Art Spur project is an illustration by Dee Strickland Johnson (Buckshot Dot), "A Cowboy's Christmas Eve." Submissions were accepted through December 17, 2007. Poems are added here daily during the season.
New Year Toasts
We welcome your Western New Year Toasts. You are welcome to send up to three toasts, in the style, for example, of S. Omar Barker's:
May you never lose a stirrup,
May you never waste a loop;
May your can stay full of syrup,
And your gizzard full of whoop!
S. Omar BarkerWe'll be choosing the top submitted toasts for posting on New Year's Day. Email your toasts by the deadline, December 30, 2007.
Christmas Links and News
For many, a part of Christmas at the BAR-D means a visit to first Lariat Laureate Rod Nichols' dazzling presentation of his poem, "Christmas Comes to Line Camp," at his web site, in a special "web book" with music and entrancing graphics. There are two additional books: "Little Britches, A Christmas Story," and "Christmas Poems," a collection of twelve of Rod Nichols' Christmas poems.
Visit all three of Rod's Christmas books here.
Rod Nichols' separate cowboy poetry board includes much Christmas cowboy poetry and invites the participation of all poets.
Rod Nichols
1942-2007Rod Nichols died December 22, 2007. He will be missed terribly by his many friends, fans, and family.
See a page of tributes to Rod Nichols here.
Paul Kern has created a podcast, "Cowboy Christmas Puddin'," which contains poems by Ken Cook and Paul Kern with fiddle music by Greg Trafido.
Listen to the podcast at Paul's site here.
Jeri Dobrowski's recent Cowboy Jam Session columns have holiday themes.
The December edition is titled "A Bookish Christmas" with her something-for-everyone Christmas picks. Included are the great stocking-stuffer How to Yodel: Lessons to Tickle Your Tonsils from Wylie Gustafson, of Wylie & the Wild West; JB—the Circle, a collection of the late JB Allen's poetry edited by Duward Campbell and Chuck Milner; Texas Quilts and Quilters: A Lone Star Legacy by Marcia Kaylakie, with Janice Whittington; the Wrangler-winning Lasting Light: 125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography by Stephen Trimble; and Ken Overcast's newest book of stories, Tradin’ Tales: Stories from a Montana Back Porch with illustrations by cowboy cartoonist Ben Crane.
The November edition featured Christmas recordings and other gift selections. Included are the Home for the Holidays CD by Montana singer and songwriter Stephanie Davis; Wylie Gustafson's (Wylie & the Wild West) new, first Christmas album, Christmas for Cowboys; Christmas Trail from Western Jubilee Recording, which includes tracks from the Sons of the San Joaquin, Don Edwards, Rich O’Brien, Waddie Mitchell, Cowboy Celtic, Michael Martin Murphey, and Wylie Gustafson; Kim Ode's Baking with the St. Paul Bread Club book; and First Dog: Unleashed in the Montana Capitol, the "true story of a black-and-white cow dog that accompanies Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer wherever he goes."
The latest edition of Nevada poet Hal Swift's column, A Brush with an Old Sage, is posted at the Nevada Observer, "Nevada's Online State News Journal." Hal tells us the column is titled "Christmas Hayride," and "features octogenarian Charley Walker, who looks back some sixty years to remember a Christmas adventure that changed his life." Read the column here.
An earlier Christmas column, titled "Christmas 1934," and "is an account of a neighborhood bully's real-life encounter with Santa Claus that, today, would be extremely unlikely." Read the column here.
[photo by Johnny Gunn]
North Dakota rancher, poet and writer Rodney Nelson's Up Sims Creek column appears bi-weekly in the Country Living section of Farm and Ranch Guide. One of his columns for the season is titled, "Spirit of Christmas Giving Can Take Many Forms" and another includes his poem, "Christmas at Sims". Read the column here.
The Sims, North Dakota Christmas celebration is captured in video and reporting, in a December 23rd article in the Bismark Tribune, "Tradition is Alive in Sims" by Tony Spilde.
[Thanks to Jeri Dobrowski for the story. Photo by Jeri L. Dobrowski; see her gallery of western performers and others here.]
The weekly Cowboy Culture Corner radio show, with hosts Dallas and PJ McCord, is featuring Christmas poetry and music on the shows leading up to Christmas, and they welcome your CD submissions: Dallas and PJ McCord, Cowboy Culture Corner, KNND 1400AM, 240 Blue Jay Loop, Creswell, OR 97426. Dallas McCord was named an Academy of Western Artists (AWA) Top Disk Jockey in 2007.
The show plays Western and cowboy music, cowboy poetry, and some bluegrass gospel. The show airs Sundays from 1 PM to 4 PM. (Pacific) on KNND 1400AM in Cottage Grove, Oregon.
This year's Western Music Association (WMA) DJ of the Year Marvin O'Dell's three-hour Around the Campfire show is featuring all-cowboy Christmas poetry and music on the shows starting the week of December 22nd. Around the Campfire airs six times a week on Heartland Public Radio, which broadcasts 24 hours a day on the internet.
Clear Out West (C. O. W.) radio, hosted by the 2006 Western Music Association (WMA) DJ's of the year, brothers Jim and Andy Nelson, has a special all-Christmas show, which broadcasts on the internet starting December 24th. Among the selections are poetry by Waddie Mitchell and a vintage Jimmy Dean recitation of S. Omar Barker's "A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer"; songs by Wylie Gustafson, Stephanie Davis, Michael Martin Murphey, Cowboy Celtic; commentary by Baxter Black; poet Chris Isaacs reading Luke 2:1-19, and more.
Clear Out West (C. O. W.) radio is broadcast to many radio stations and past shows are available for listening on demand from the Clear Out West web site.photo by Lori Faith Merritt, www.PhotographyByFaith.com
more to come ...
Daily Posts
Something
every day, along with selected classic and
contemporary favorites from past years' celebrations
Read the newest postings below.
The Christmas Season, December 2007
December 5 In what's become a tradition at the BAR-D, we start the season by sharing a modern classic, a BAR-D favorite, Christmas Waltz, by Buck Ramsey (1938-1998). We have a new poem from Jerry Schleicher, The Schoolhouse Christmas Tree, and a poem from the 2006 Christmas Art Spur by Slim McNaught, The Kissin' Tree.
December 6 Another favorite classic is S. Omar Barker's (1894-1985) Draggin' the Tree. Colen Sweeten (1919-2007), lost to us this year, but always in our hearts, left behind many wonderful Christmas poems, including Memories of Christmas. Colen's good friend, Jo Lynne Kirkwood, has a new poem, Sandy Kris.
December 7 Bruce Kiskaddon's (1878-1950) The Old Time Christmas is a classic favorite. We have poems from two South Dakota poets, a poem from the 2006 Art Spur, Bringing Christmas Home, by Don Hilmer, and Ken Cook's new poem, Remote Control Wife.
December 8 For a classic selection, we have Arthur Chapman's (1873-1935) humorous Christmas Shopping in Cactus Center. And there's Mike Dunn's Wrappings & Bows from a Christmas past, and Jean Mathisen Haugen's new poem, God Rest Ye Merry Grumps.
December 9 Robert Service (1874-1958) wrote The Trapper's Christmas Eve. For this Advent Sunday, we have Gail T. Burton's A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer from a Christmas past, Paul Kern's new poem, Broken Things to Mend.
December 10 S. Omar Barker (1894-1985) wrote his poem Empty Saddles at Christmas back in the 1940s, during World War II, and its message remains relevant today. Robert Dennis' poem from a Christmas past, Bringing Home Christmas, also pays tribute to Americans serving their country. Rod Nichols (whose son Dennis just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, and will be re-deployed to the area later in 2008) has a new Christmas poem, Neath a Christmas Eve Sky.
December 11 E. A. Brininstool (1870-1957) tells about Christmas Week in Sagebrush. We have a poem from a past Christmas by Hal Swift, Christmas on the Trail, and a new poem from Al Mehl, The Brand New Year.
December 12 Australian Henry Lawson (1867-1922) wrote the rich tale of bushmen friendship, Ben Duggan. Sam Jackson's Country Christmas is from a past Christmas, and we have Joyce Johnson's new poem, Christmas Eve Ride.
December 13 Canadian Rhoda Sivell (1873-1962) wrote about Christmas in Happy Days. Her countrywoman Doris Daley's A Christmas Prayer is a fine companion from a past Christmas, and we have Jack Burdette's new poem, The Nighthawk's Christmas.
December 14 Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950) wrote about The Cowboys Christmas Dance, and Glen Enloe pays tribute to the poet and the past in his new poem, Kiskaddon Christmas. And we have a favorite from a past Christmas by Jay Snider, Santa's Helper.
December 15 S. Omar Barker (1894-1985) wrote another evocative Christmas poem, Line Camp Christmas Letter. Catherine Lilbit Devine has a new poem about a Line Cabin Christmas. And from a previous celebration of Christmas at the BAR-D, we have top songwriter Curly Musgrave's beautiful Prairie Silent Night.
December 16 Henry Lawson's (1867-1922) poem, The Fire at Ross's Farm has a message on this Advent Sunday, as does Yvonne Hollenbeck's The Perfect Gift, from a past Christmas. And we have Jo Lee T. Riley's new poem, This Cowhand's Life.
December 17 Robert Service's (1874-1958) The Cremation of Sam McGee takes place on Christmas Eve. And who better to pair with that poem than the quirky DW Groethe, with his poem from a previous Christmas, A Charlie Creek Christmas, and one that follows that tale, 'Twas a Fright Before Christmas or Snake Eye Saves the Day, with Scott Nelson's illustrations.
December 18 Owen Wister (1860-1938), best known as the author of The Virginian, wrote a story we posted serially in a past Christmas, A Journey in Search of Christmas, with illustrations by Frederic Remington. This year's special Christmas Art Spur is launched with artist, poet, writer, and musician Dee Strickland Johnson's own poem, A Cowboy's Christmas Eve. And there's a new poem from Jane Morton about her great grandson's first Christmas, Cody's Christmas Present.
December 19 William Lawrence "Larry" Chittenden's (1862-1934) poem, The Cowboys' Christmas Ball, was first published in 1890 in an Anson, Texas newspaper and a commemorative event takes place there annually. Colorado poet Al Mehl helps get the special Christmas Art Spur started with his poem, Star of Wonder. Minnesota rancher, writer, and poet Diane Tribitt contributes A Campfire Christmas Eve to Art Spur. Oklahoma's David Althouse celebrates one of his favorite times of year in his new poem for the season, Christmas in Cimarron Country, and in his Art Spur poem, Christmas Out Here.
December 20 Australia's A. B. "Banjo" Paterson
(1864-1941) has a great tale, fun to read aloud, Santa Claus in the Bush. Arizona's Carole Jarvis has a fine poem from a past BAR-D celebration, A Desert Cowboy's Christmas. And we have two poems from Canada, from British Columbians: Mag Mawhinney's Art Spur poem, A Cowboy's Christmas Eve, and Mike Puhallo's Wild Horse Christmas.
December 21 S. Omar Barker (1894-1985) wrote many excellent Christmas poems (see a list here) and we add another to that list, new at the BAR-D this year, Bunkhouse Christmas. The great American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963) wrote a poem with rural resonance, The Christmas Trees. Rodney Nelson paints a picture of rural life in North Dakota with his Christmas at Sims. We have two Art Spur selections, A Cowboy's Guiding Star by Australian Jan Price and Journey's End by Clark Crouch of Washington state.
(See the note above about Western New Year Toast submissions.)
December 22 Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950) wrote many Christmas poems (see a list here) and also wrote a number of Christmas poems for the Chuck Wagon Trailers, a group organized in 1931 "by old-time cowboys who were Hollywood's first stunt men and western stars." New at the BAR-D this year, we have a 1933 piece, Merry Christmas, courtesy of Bill Siems, whose recent, monumental book, Open Range; Collected Poems of Bruce Kiskaddon, includes more of those Christmas poems and all of Kiskaddon's known poems.
A favorite from past celebrations is Busted Cowboy's Christmas by D. J. O'Malley (1868-1943).
Jane Morton often writes of her family and their many generations of ranch history in her poetry. The ranch was recently sold; her Christmas Memories includes her two great grandchildren, the two newest family members. Read more of Jane Morton's Christmas poems, listed here.
In Art Spur, we have A Cowboy Christmas Eve by Wildwood Slim of Manitoba and A Cowboy's Christmas Eve by Joyce Johnson of Washington state.
December 23 The Sunday before Christmas seems the perfect time for one of the best-known cowboy Christmas poems, S. Omar Barker's (1894-1985) A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer. Read more about S. Omar Barker and the popular piece along with the poem (and you can listen to Tennessee Ernie Ford's recording of it, starting Monday, December 24 on Clear Out West (C. O. W.) radio, as noted above).
....
There ain't no Merry Christmas
for nobody that ain't free!
So one thing more I ask You,
Lord: just help us what You can
To save some seeds of freedom
for the future Sons of Man!Special selections from past Christmas celebrations include New Mexico rancher Deanna Dickinson McCall's Gifts in the Hay; California poet, writer and horsewoman LaVonne Houlton's Joseph; Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns' The Rest of the Story; Arkansas poet and rancher Michael Henley's The Gate Cut; and the late, well-loved and widely missed Colen Sweeten's In a Manger.
Art Spur additions include poems that fit the day: Night Thoughts by Jerry Schleicher of Missouri, Star So Bright by Van A. Criddle of Oregon; A Cowboy Christmas Eve by John R. Yaws of Texas; Campfire Christmas Eve by Glen Enloe of Missouri, Thank You for the Company by Merv Webster of Queensland; and A Cowboy's Christmas Eve by Rod Nichols of Texas.
December 24 S. Omar Barker (1894-1985) has many Christmas poems (see a list here) and we're grateful to have his previously uncollected Line-Camp Christmas, courtesy of the S. Omar Barker estate. Another great classic is Badger Clark's (1883-1957) inspired poem, The Christmas Trail.
Other BAR-D Christmastime favorites from celebrations past are Utah poet and rancher Paul Kern's A Cowboy Country Christmas; Texas poet and writer Linda Kirkpatrick's One Less Chair at the Table; Yukon poet Alf Bilton's Even on Christmas Day; California poet, artist and former rodeo cowboy Pat Richardson's Here's to the Cowboys; Pat's good friend, Idaho poet, rodeo champion, and saddle maker Bob Schild's Santa Comes Calvin'; Dean Cook's Grubline Carol; Virginia Bennett's Ramona's Christmas Box; and Christmas Serenade by Texas cowboy, poet, musician, and saddle maker J. W. Beeson. We're grateful to the poets for all of the good poems contributed over these past eight Christmases. There's a list of all past Christmas poems here.
Our final Art Spur poem is Utah poet and writer Jo Lynne Kirkwood's Cowboy Christmas Eve.
And for this week's Picture the West, see photos of Wyoming's Flying U Ranch live nativity, shared by Andy and Jim Nelson.
(See the note above about Western New Year Toast submissions.)
For Christmas Day, we leave you with one of Bruce Kiskaddon's (1878-1950) great Christmas poems:
The Old Time ChristmasI liked the way we used to do,
when cattle was plenty and folks was few.
The people gathered frum far and near, and
they barbacued a big fat steer.
The kids tried stayin' awake because,
they reckoned they might ketch Santa Claus.
Next mornin' you'd wake 'em up to see,
what he'd been and put on the Christmas tree.It was Christmas then fer the rich and pore,
and every ranch was an open door.
The waddy that came on a company hoss
was treated the same as the owner and boss.
Nobody seemed to have a care,
you was in among friends or you wasn't there.
For every feller in them days knew
to behave hisself as a man should do.Some had new boots, which they'd shore admire
when they warmed their feet in front of the fire.
And the wimmin folks had new clothes too,
but not like the wimmin of these days do.
Sometimes a drifter came riding in,
some feller that never was seen agin.
And each Christmas day as the years went on
we used to wonder where they'd gone.I like to recall the Christmas night.
The tops of the mountains capped with white.
The stars so bright they seemed to blaze,
and the foothills swum in a silver haze.
Them good old days is past and gone.
The time and the world and the change goes on.
And you cain't do things like you used to do
when cattle was plenty and folks was few.
Merry Christmas to all!
Thanks to all who have shared their work.
Special thanks to all those who support the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry and its programs. You make it all possible.
Byrl Keith Chadwell, coming out of Dutch Flat Lake in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon in the late fall of 1993.
Father Christmas
© Joelle Smith. Used with the kind permission of Sally Smith and Rosenbo Print Company
Further duplication prohibited. (Cards available from Rosenbo Print Company)
With special remembrance of those who left us this year... Rod Nichols, Jared Paul Nesset, Hank Thompson, Robert Giles, Edna Francis Jessop, Butch Burkholder, Colen Sweeten, Don King, Bill Farr, Jim Shoulders, Josiah Hollopeter, Senator Craig Thomas, Vince Pedroia, Laura Ellen Hopper, Barbara Hall, Scott Preston, Ray Owens, Dall Dimick,
Frank E. Buckles, Mickey Dawes, and Tom Morrell.
A Special Year-end Message
This past year, did you find something at CowboyPoetry.com that interested you? Did you visit for poetry, news, event information, features? Was your own poem included at the BAR-D? Was your local gathering announced, or were you a part of a gathering report? Did we share your news with our many readers? Your support is vital.
'Tis the season.
If you enjoy features such as Christmas at the BAR-D, there's no better time to show your support.
All that happens at the BAR-D is made possible by the essential contributions of generous supporters: CowboyPoetry.com; Cowboy Poetry Week and its annual Western art poster; The BAR-D Roundup compilation CD; and the Rural Library Project that distributes posters and CDs to rural libraries. We've received generous donations of $10 and donations of $1000; and we are grateful for them all.
Become a supporter, make a tax-deductible donation, perhaps in memory of someone who treasured our Western Heritage: Make a difference.
Read some of our supporters' comments here, visit the Wall of Support, and donate!
Read all about our history, the Center, and about how you can be a part of it all right here.
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See the links above for holiday news and more; our regular News Since the Last Newsletter is here.
See a complete list of all the holiday poems posted since 2000 here.
See the list of all the poems at the BAR-D here.
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