Whispers of the West : North, South, East, West ~ The Spirits of the West Whisper on the Wind

Whispers of the West
North, South, East, West ~ The Spirits of the West Whisper on the Wind

LITTLE BUCKAROOS KEEP THE COWBOY WAY ALIVE

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My wild stick horse remuda
Was quite the varied band,
Born and bred with me in mind
And trained by his own hand.
I'm longing for the legends,
And the way we used to roam,
With my wild stick horse remuda,
And the man that we called "Home."

EXCERPT FROM "WILD STICK HORSE REMUDA" BY DEBRA COPPINGER HILL

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HOWDY BUCKAROOS

THIS PAGE IS ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNGEST GENERATION OF COWBOYS

WE WILL PROMOTE ALL COWBOY POETRY AND ARTWORK EMAILED TO US

FROM BUCKAROOS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 & 18

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AS WE TRAVEL TO VENUES AND ENCOUNTER TALENTED BUCKAROOS, WE WILL POST THEIR WORKS HERE. IF YOU ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND EIGHTEEN, YOU CAN EMAIL US YOUR ARTWORK OR POETRY, whisperswest@yahoo.com. PLEASE PUT "LIL BUCKAROO POETRY/ARTWORK" IN THE SUBJECT FIELD AND TELL US YOUR AGE, NAME, TOWN & STATE

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~ Cowboy Links for the Lil Buckaroos ~

http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/diamondr/index.html

http://www.erniesites.com/

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Whispers of the West would like to thank Steve Conroy, Co-Chairman of the Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering, for providing us the information on their stellar youth writing program. I hope you enjoy learning about the program. I also assure you that you will love meeting these children and be touched by their writings

The Western Heritage Program

Children at 16 elementary and secondary schools in Cochise County, Arizona, participated in our 11th Annual Western Heritage Program. Bud Strom, a local cowboy, and Way Out West, a group from Tucson, AZ, volunteered their time to travel to schools, where they performed cowboy poetry and discussed cowboy life and our western heritage. The goals of the program are correlated with the Arizona Department of Education Language Arts and Social Studies standards, thus ensuring an educational partnership between the Gathering and the participating schools. Thousands of poems were written again this year, with twenty-four winners being chosen in early December. The ten major youth poetry winners highlighted in this program will appear at one of the Headline Stage Performance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Gathering awarded $1,000 Scholarships to two graduating seniors for their outstanding poetry.

As a part of the Western Heritage Music Program, students at the participating schools joined in a group sing-along of traditional Cowboy songs. The goal is to help elementary school students and gain an understanding of our heritage through the folk-art from of the cowboy songs. To achieve this, we enlisted the aid of school music teachers and poetry chairpersons in participating schools to teach four cowboy songs to students before February 3^rd. Each of the schools had their own Cowboy Song Sing-along on that day during an assembly with the visiting cowboy artists. In addition, a Cowboy songs sing-along for the general public is held on Saturday, February 4^th at Buena High School in the cafeteria. Students are encouraged to bring their families and attend this free event, which begins at 11:00. The success of this part of the Western Heritage Music Program depends solely on the willingness of the music teachers and volunteer chairpersons at each school.

We are committed to the young people of our community and appreciate the support of the school administrators, teachers, and librarians, who have spent countless hours encouraging students to write. The Saddlebag of Poems 11, a collection of the “best of the young cowboy poets” this year is on sale at the Gathering. Proceeds from the sale of the booklets benefit the participating schools.

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This eleventh issue of Saddlebag of Poems celebrates the Western Heritage Program and a very successful "Partnership In Education" with the annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering and twenty-five elementary and secondary schools in Cochise County, Arizona. Students in the public school systems of Sierra Vista, Palominas, and the Fort Huachuca Accommodation Schools, as well as First Baptist Christian Academy, Chancellor Charter School at Sierra Vista, Our Lady Of The Mountain Catholic School and the Christian Home Educators of Cochise County participated in the Western Heritage Program's Youth Cowboy Poetry Contest. This program provided a window in the classroom to our western heritage, highlighting the cowboy lifestyle and experience and allowing the student's expression of this experience to manifest itself in this poetic art form. The following works represent the "best of the young cowboy poets" from the aforementioned schools in Cochise County.

Biographies For Poets and their Poems

First Grand, Second Grand, First Place

Scholarship

2006

Julia Kessler First Grand (3-5) "My Horse and I"

5^th Grade, Our Lady Of The Mountains Catholic School

My Horse And I

I love my horse

Her name is Lily.

She runs with such force.

She's one good filly.

We ride in the meadow.

We ride `cross the river.

When she sees her shadow

It makes her shiver.

Her color's snow-white.

Her eyes sparkle blue.

Her saddle's on tight.

Her tail's braided too.

I've got a good horse.

She's gentle as can be.

I love her, of course

And I know she loves me.

Julia Violet Kessler is ten years old and is in the fifth grade at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic School. She has two sisters and one brother. Julia likes to swim, sing and dance.

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Wyatt Hawkins Second Grand (3-5) "The Steed"

3^rd Grade, Town and Country Elementary School

The Steed

Out on the range

On his horse with a rope.

Bringing in the herd

Is his greatest hope.

Rustling doggies

Is his good deed,

But he couldn't do it without

The help of his steed.

At home in the saddle

His horse is his best friend.

Doing a job

Until the very end.

Almost no pay,

A hard job to do,

But you don't choose to be a cowboy.

The cowboy life chooses you.

Wyatt enjoys playing soccer, a sport he has been involved with for four years. He also likes playing video games. Wyatt enjoys school, especially reading!

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Haleigh Goodner First Place (3-5) "The Cowgirl Who Had No Fear"

4^th Grade, Pueblo Del Sol Elementary School

The Cowgirl Who Had No Fear

There once was a cowgirl who had a great horse.

They rode through the desert with such a great force.

While riding one day, they heard a strange sound.

So they looked in the trees and on the ground.

As they looked around the sound got stronger,

She grew more curious and couldn't wait any longer.

Leaning against the barn was a rusty old rake,

And there on the ground lay a huge rattlesnake.

She stepped up to the snake without a care

And gave a big yell, then the snake got a scare.

She tossed back her hair with a great big whirl,

Cause ain't no snake tougher than this girl!

Haleigh Goodner loves to play sports, especially soccer, softball and track. She has been writing for a long time and loves to do it. She has entered the Cowboy Poetry Contest before and this is her first win.

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Amanda Wheat First Grand (6-8) "Hats Off to the Cowgirls!"

8^th Grade, First Baptist Christian Academy

Hats Off To The Cowgirl

I looked up the meaning of cowgirl, to start this little quest,

In encyclopedias and in the Dictionary of the American West.

And this is what I discovered, much to my dismay,

Not a word, not a thought, absolutely nothing to convey!

Feeling rather discouraged I looked in of Webster to see,

If "cowgirl" might be mentioned, just in some small degree.

And although it actually was, I was disappointed to find,

"Female cowboys" was all it said — oh my gosh! Never mind!

I knew in my gut there's more to their story than that,'

So I pulled out some more books and searched the ''net."

And the glorious things that I discovered there

Made me whoop and holler and jump off my chair!

Just like the cowboys, these ladies helped tame the West,

Yes, they cooked and they cleaned, always giving their best.

But they also roped and branded and were real buckaroos,

They raised families, rode the trail, and rounded up doggies too!

Cowgirls were pioneers, poets, songwriters and singers,

Horsewomen and horse traders, ranch owners and leaders,

They were social activists, rodeo cowgirls, and legends too

Cowgirls take a bow, my hat's off to you.

I learned of rawhide bloomers and how truly hard it was

To live a cowgirl life in those fancy eastern duds!

I mean, really, how do you expect us to ride astride;

With petticoats flying and corsets pinching our sides?

Unfortunately, some women led a life of crime,

And I wonder how many actually did some "time."

They robbed banks, stagecoaches and even some trains,

Some were outlaws — like Billy the Kid and Jesse James.

There were gamblers, saloon owners, and bartenders too,

And probably a dishonest card dealer or two.

And sadly, another occupation, which I won't list

It must have been a hard life; I think you get the gist.

Regrettably, some of these ladies had a bad reputation,'

Some were desperate, some were greedy, and some fell to temptation.

But most were hardworking, honest cowgirls to the core,

And these are the ones I must take my hat off for!

Yesterday’s cowgirls live on in the cowgirls of today,

By passing on their traditions, they will never fade away.

Their experiences are celebrated in legend, poem, and song,

For the next generation to learn, love, and pass on.

I now know there's a National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame,

That opened in (19)'75 to document and preserve the cowgirl name.

Honored there are one hundred and seventy-two

Hat's off to these ladies, we're really proud of you!

So it's time we pay tribute to the Women of the West,

To honor their spirit and their noble quest.

You love this life more than diamonds and pearls,

What a difference you made -- hats off to the cowgirls!

Amanda Wheat is an 8^th grade student at First Baptist Christian Academy. She is very active in Girl Scouts where she is working on her Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Cadette Girl Scout can earn. She also enjoys playing the piano and taking tap and Irish dance lessons at the Alma Dolores Dance Studio. This is her fifth winning entry in the Western Heritage Writing Program.

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Jaclyn Reid Second Grand (6-8) "Coyote’s Song"

7^th Grade, First Baptist Christian Academy

Coyote's Song

I wake up with a start

And sit up straight-

What is that I hear

On the other side of the gate?

It is a strange, sweet song

A yipping parade

Now I listen sleepily

To the coyote's serenade

The pups are excited;

Bubbling with joy

For the kill is good-

It's no time to be coy

They must hurry

And get their share

For it won't be long

Til the pickings are bare

I look out the window

Straining to see

Is that a sparkle

From behind the tree?

The moonlight

Reveals a shimmering eye-

Now their song quiets

For the night will soon die

I lean in closer

And at a glance

I can see the coyote's

Headstrong prance

Dawn's first light

It's time to move on-

One last howl

Then they are gone

I lie back down

And snuggle warm in my bed-

Shut my eyes

A happy tune in my head

My dreams are pleasant

For I know it won't be long

Til the next time I hear

The coyote's song

Jaclyn Reid attends First Baptist Christian Academy. She has lived in Arizona for six and one-half years and loves to write about its southwestern nature. Her hobbies include drawing and painting, horseback riding, and playing just about anything outdoors. She got the inspiration for her winning poem by watching the wildlife at her home in Hereford.

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Isis Arteaga First Place (6-8) "Old Cowboy"

6^th Grade, Colonel Smith Middle School

Old Cowboy

He might be old n' cranky,

And be none too bright.

He might just let the whole herd go,

That of cowboy just might!

Sometimes people tell him,

"You talk way too much!"

His stories do get boring,

But just a tiny touch!

All those young cowboys

With no care in the world.

That was him when his hair,

Was brown, shiny, and curl’d.

He used to be out there,

On the ranch, and herdin'.

Now he's sippin' soup,

On his couch, and hurtin'.

Riding out on the horizon,

Racing fast, was he.

Now everything he used to be,

Is now gonna be me.

Isis was born on January 21, 1994 at March Air Force Base to her parents Sophia and Octavio Arteaga. Her hobbies include running and drawing. She has gone to the Cross Country Championship for her school sports team.

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Laura Wheat First Grand (9-12) "A Cowgirl's Prayer"

10th Grade, Buena High School

A Cowgirl's Prayer

Dear Lord, this is just a simple prayer,

Of thanksgiving and of praise,

From a cowgirl to her Maker

To thank you for all her days.

No matter what life brings along,

I kneel faithfully at the close of day,

With hands clasped and head bowed low,

With a grateful heart I pray.

First, Lord, I want to thank you,

For my home here in the west,

And for making me a darn good cowgirl,

And the guts to pass that old "cowboy test."

Thank you for the clear blue skies,

In the lovely month of May,

And for the mighty monsoon rain

After a blazing summer day.

Thanks for helping me and my ranch,

Make it through this awful drought.

These have been some real tough years,

We survived only by Your grace, no doubt!

Thank you, Lord, for my herd of cattle,

Keeping them healthy, fed and watered is quite a feat,

And with all that roping, riding and branding to do,

At the end of the day I'm just plain beat!

But, really Lord, I don't mind,

Though, sometimes it can get a bit rough,

So, I pray to You to give me strength,

And for guidance when times get tough.

Though I'm getting' on in years,

And I'm feeling a little worn,

I thank you for the peaceful night,

And the blessed coming of the morn.

Thank you for my family,

My husband and daughters three

For all the ranch hands and my pals,

Their love means so very much to me.

But on heaven's shining streets of gold

I know Ma and Pa are walking safe with you.

Please tell them that I love them

And my darling little boy, too.

It just doesn't seem right

That I should ask for anything more,

After all I've gratefully received-

There's just one last thing I'd ask for.

Dear Lord, I pray for just a few more years,

To cherish the treasures of this land,

And to live this cowgirl life I love,

Before You take me by the hand.

Well, Lord, its getting late,

And it's time for me to turn in,

Please send a guardian angel or two,

To watch over me and my kin.

So thank you for the gifts you give

Here on earth and up above,

But most of all, thanks for your Son

And for Your everlasting love.

Amen

Laura Wheat is a sophomore at Buena High School. She is very active in Girl Scouts having earned her Silver Award as a Cadette Girl Scout. Now as a Senior Girl Scout she is working on her Gold Award, the highest award a Senior Girl Scout can earn. Her hobbies include reading, piano, and collecting anything with Mickey Mouse on it. She also enjoys taking tap and Irish dance lessons at the Alma Dolores Dance Studio. Laura is a member of the JROTC Armed Drill Team at Buena High School. This is her sixth winning entry in the Western Heritage Writing Program.

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Elora Hildebrand First Place (9-12) "Just Go On"

11^th Grade, Buena High School

Just Go On

If a gullywasher sweeps the cattle far away,

If the only well goes dry,

If tornadoes make the sun go dark in day,

If the prairie grasses die...

Well, you just go on:

That 's the thing that matters.

Yeah, you just go on,

Down the dusty road.

Friend, you just go on,

Dirty, bruised, and battered,

And you carry your own share of the load.

If the horses stumble on a patch of loco weed,

If the sky declines to rain,

If your troubles come like locusts after one last seed,

And the world seems made of pain...

Then you just go on:

That's the thing that matters.

Yeah, you just go on,

Down the dusty road.

Friend, you just go on,

Dirty, bruised, and battered,

And you carry your own share of the load.

Well, we might not live in any perfect paradise,

But I sure don't know who does.

This life isn't easy and it isn't always nice,

But I like it, friend, because...

Here we still go on;

Strength and pride still matter.

Here the land goes on;

Tumbleweeds still roll.

Better go on and on

Than just sit and fray and tatter,

Better stay where people trust a stubborn soul...

Better stay out here, where earth and sky are whole.

Elora is a high school Junior at Buena High School, and a notorious bookworm. She aspires to be an author. She has placed in the Western Heritage Writing Program several times before. She is delighted to have placed first this year.

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Bit Says ~ I was able to see this delightful young lady recite her poem at the Saturday night jam session. Her poise and presentation were amazing. I see a bright future ahead for Miss Katelyn, no matter where her trails take her.

Katelyn Fink Scholarship Winner "Cowgirl Wannabe"

Senior, Christian Home Educators Of Cochise County

Cowgirl Wannabe

I haven't hidden my secret well

You've probably already seen,

I'll just right out and tell ya'

I'm a cowgirl wanna be!

I grew up in the city

Where houses give each other hugs,

Where I've never touched a lizard

And scream when I see bugs.

My beautiful prairie scene

Is painted on a plate.

The scorpion hiding in my house

Is locked in a paper-weight!

Cars roam my open ranges,

Bumper to bumper, 9 to 5.

Only those with rag-tops

Get to feel the air alive.

I've never owned a hat or spurs

To be ready for my mount;

I've never actually ridden a horse,

(Ponies led by rope don't count!)

But hey! My city's got mustangs too

All that horsepower... What a sight!

`Cause I know behind those windows

Sits a cowboy look-a-like!

But I'm jealous of all you real cowgirls

The pain and perspiration;

All your toil and sacrifice,

Your life's an inspiration!

You've heard of Martha Jane Canary

Who'd go on to greater fame,

For her wild, wild west adventures

With Calamity as her name.

A pioneer of other sorts,

Was savage outlaw, Pearl Hart,

First stagecoach thief and Yuma prisoner

To rock these Arizona parts.

From Little Sure Shot Annie Oakley,

To land Tycoon Virginia Reed,

Little Britches, Cattle Annie,

And Belle Starr, the Bandit Queen.

Their pioneering spirit:

For you it's like lookin' in a mirror,

You're founded on their strength of heart,

The backbone of the new frontier.

With the men you match your strides

From hard work you never waver.

And you always can One-Up the guys,

`Cause you done two kinds of Labor!

Dawn `til dusk a cowgirl's life

Men don't give you any lip!

You get things done and delegate

With a baby on your hip!

Cowgirls past and present

Down the hallowed halls of time,

A legacy of gut and grit,

A steep and rocky climb.

Now maybe I'm a wannabe

But please show me to your door,

For there's many a strong cowgirl

And I can hear those women roar!

You ladies run a revolution!

I tip my hat to y'all;

To all the cowgirls here tonight,

Let's hear a loud Yee Haw!

Kate Fink is a senior home school student and will be attending the University of Arizona next fall. She enjoys all forms of literature and composition, and wants to thank the Gathering for this wonderful learning experience for the youth of Cochise County.

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Amanda Webb Scholarship Winner "Branding Season"

Senior, Wilcox High School

Branding Season

A cowboy swings his lasso quickly around his tattered straw hat.

Adrenaline rushes throughout s body,

As he and his horse approach the frightened calf.

Around and around it swings until finally,

With a snap of his wrist,

The lasso hoops around the hind legs of the calf.

Without hesitation the horse pulls back.

The cowboy wraps he rope rapidly around the saddle horn.

Within an instant, the cowboy is off his horse and running toward the calf.

The cloud of dust and the sound of his spurs

Allows everyone to know at it is nearly time for the fiercely hot iron.

With one swift motion, the cowboy has the calf lying on its side.

He holds it steady while the rest of the crew bring over the branding irons.

With force, the cowboy places the iron on the rear of the calf.

The calf cries out for a brief moment and the smell of burning hide fills the air.

A brush, dipped in oil, coats over the new brand,

Allowing the stinging sensation to cease.

With quick, steady motions, the cowboy cuts a "V" from the calf’s ear

And finally, the calf is finished.

The cowboy removes the rope from the calf’s hind legs,

And with a jump and holler, the calf runs away to join the others.

With a grin, the cowboy mounts his horse once again.

For it is the greatest time of the year.

Branding season!

Amanda Webb is a senior at Willcox High School. She is planning to attend the U of A and study Agricultural Education. She is the President of the Willcox FFA Chapter and enjoys competing in parliamentary procedures and field competitions such as agronomy, soils, and entomology. She is also involved in the Methodist youth group and Young Guns. She loves to play the piano, write, dance, fish, hunt, and spend time with family friends. She would like to thank the committee for allowing her to share not only her writing, but also to provide a great experience.

Biographies For Musicians

First Place, Second Place

2006

New Event! Western Heritage Middle School Cowboy Song Contest

Joseph Howdeshell First Place Winner "Life On The Ranch" (Original lyrics to

7th Grade, Smith Middle School the tune of "Ghost Riders" by Stan Jones)

Joseph has taken guitar lessons from Robert Waldron for six months. He also plays the oboe and has sung in the Cochise Children’s Choir for four years.

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Allison Gunsch Second Place Winner "Ghost Riders In The Sky" by Stan Jones

6th grade, Christian Home Educators of Cochise County

Allison has played guitar for several years and takes lessons from her father, Trace Gunsch. She also plays piano, basketball, volleyball and enjoys sewing, baking and painting with watercolors.