Ron's Cowboy Poetry
He's Got a Lot to Say,
And You'll Enjoy Listening!
Howdy, from the Cowboy Poet Lariat
Howdy folks, and welcome to our place on the internet.
It tells of how I got the title "Poet Lariat".
To me, this technology is awfully new-fangled,
And I'll admit that cowboy grammar sometimes just gets mangled.
But we love our cowboy poems - that part is surely true,
And we'd be glad to come and say a set of poems for you.
When it comes to fun, a cowboy never fails,
So welcome to our website, and we wish you "Happy Trails!"
Howdy from the Cowboy Poet Lariat
He's Got a Lot to Say,
And You'll Enjoy Listening!
Ron Wilson is a cowboy poet from the historic Lazy T Ranch near Manhattan, Kansas. Proclaimed a “Poet Lariat” (not laureate) by Governor of Kansas Bill Graves, Ron chairs the annual Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest, hosts the monthly online video show called “Cattle Trails Showcase,” appears in a weekly Facebook Live video segment called “Live at the Lazy T Ranch,” and produces a biweekly newspaper column called “Cowboy Up.” He is the only cowboy poet in history to present a cowboy poem at a Kansas Governor’s inauguration. He is a spokesman for the National Day of the Cowboy organization; an Ambassador for the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum in Fort Worth, Texas; an inductee into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame; recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Historic Cattle Trails Consortium; and national president of Western Wordsmiths. He says his poetry is all-original, humorous, family-friendly, patriotic, and most of the time, it even rhymes!
Ron performs his original cowboy poetry in full costume, and he always gets his audience involved. Sometimes, he brings along his loyal and talented sidekicks, Stanley the Steer and Pete the Possum. The poetry is fun, family-oriented, patriotic and relates extremely well with ag and rural audiences, and most of the time, it even rhymes. We invite you to read more, listen to the samples, and schedule Ron to perform at your event.
Featured Poetry
Ron’s Cowboy Poetry – Some Original Poems by Ron
“National Day of the American Cowboy”
by Ron Wilson, Poet Lariat
This is a day we set out to give praise
To those who honor the Cowboy ways.
The American Cowboy is a true hero,
Who helped our nation to thrive and grow.
The cowboy was a true pioneer,
Who braved the wild western frontier.
Not only did he tame the American West,
He stood for the values which we think of as best:
He believes in hard work, and playing hard too,
And in honoring women in all that they do.
To be independent and stand up for what’s right,
To be courageous and honest and not run from a fight.
To be brave and loyal, to ride for the brand,
And be a good steward of his livestock and land.
Those are timeless values that still hold true,
Still used every day in what modern cowboys do.
Now the U.S. Senate has voted to have a day
To honor the American Cowboy in this way.
We give thanks for all that cowboys and cowgirls do,
To keep the Cowboy way alive and true.
So we honor this legacy for the values it will employ,
As we celebrate the National Day of the American Cowboy.
© Copyright 2010
The Perfect Name
by Ron Wilson, Poet Lariat
Three new horses were talkin’ over the pasture fence.
They thought they’d get acquainted so their grazing could commence.
“What’s your name?” they asked the first horse, and he swelled up with pride:
“My owner calls me Champion when we go out to ride.”
They turned to the second horse and said, “So what’s your name?”
Just as the first horse swelled with pride, the second did the same:
“I got a cool name when I was just a colt.
You see, my owner always calls me Thunderbolt.”
Then the other two turned to the third and final horse,
And they asked for him to tell his name, of course.
“Well, I’m not exactly sure,” the other horse finally said.
“From what I hear, I think it’s `Whoa, you stupid knucklehead.’”
© Copyright 2010
Why There??!
by Ron Wilson, Poet Lariat
When we’re movin’ cattle, every time it seems,
There’s something that happens that just makes me steam.
We’ll have the cows goin’ in the way that they should,
Movin’ along in a bunch, and everything’s good.
But then intervenes a stroke of ill fate:
I speak of the dog that stands in the gate.
We have several stock-dogs here at the home place.
The way they herd cattle puts a smile on my face.
With their master’s direction, they gather the herd,
And then bring `em by with a nod or a word.
But some of our dogs just aren’t quite that smart.
They want in on the action but not the right part.
They end up in a spot that makes me irate:
I speak of the dog that stands in the gate.
Is it contrariness or a brain that is slow
That makes him stand there where the cows are to go?
It’s that spot we’re trying to drive the cows through,
But the dog runs `em off with his hullabaloo.
It is the one thing that is sure to frustrate:
I speak of the dog that stands in the gate.
We’ll have to gather cows till dark
To bring `em back from his cussed bark.
It’s the kind of performance that I’ve come to hate:
The sight of the dog that stands in the gate.
Now you can be sure, if the picture was changed,
And we’re tryin’ to keep the cattle contained,
If we want the dog to stop `em right there,
The dog’s somewhere else like he hasn’t a care.
But when we start drivin’ the cattle in through,
The dog comes a`runnin’ where we don’t want him to.
It’s something I can’t stand to contemplate:
The sight of the dog that stands in the gate.
I’ve threatened to shoot him, but that’ll never do,
Cause the kids like the dog, and Ma likes him too.
Now don’t get me wrong, I like all my hounds.
On a ranch, they are handy to have around.
And a cowboy’s life is a good one, outside,
In the wide open spaces with a good horse to ride.
But one part of this life that I don’t celebrate,
Yes, it’s that dog that stands in the gate.
© Copyright 2010
Terror on the Trail
By Ron Wilson, Poet Lariat
It was cloudy `n dry, that hot day in July,
As we drove cattle up the trail.
We were needin’ rest, in our dogged quest,
To drive `em to the Kansas rail.
But in the western skies, where we turned our eyes,
A cloud bank started to build.
Then the clouds turned dark. We saw lightning spark,
As the black clouds grew and filled.
The air was muggy. Hosses’ eyes went buggy.
The cattle were restless and flighty.
As the clouds drew near, the boss made it clear:
He said, “This storm is gonna be mighty.”
Then the sky turned green, like nothin’ we’d seen.
The air was so still it was eerie.
With nary a bicker, we pulled on our slickers,
Even though we were bone-tired and weary.
Rain started a’fallin,’ the cattle were bawlin,’
And the clouds started whirlin’ around.
We heard a distant roar. Then the noise seemed to soar,
Till it filled our ears with the sound.
To our terrified stare, from the devilish air,
A black rope dropped from the skies.
With a roar like a train, it plowed `cross the plain,
Tossin’ men, dirt and cattle like flies.
“It’s a cyclone, boys,” the boss yelled through the noise.
“Now it’s every man for hisself.”
My loyal horse spooked, despite my rebuke,
As I rode him off a sidehill shelf.
The cattle stampeded, and ran unheeded,
While brave men rode for their lives.
Critters ran pell-mell in the face of this hell
And a desperate race to survive.
Then the roar started fading and the sound started trading,
The raindrops for the cyclone’s roar.
The rain came in torrents, to the riders’ abhorrence,
Like an ocean tide pounding a shore.
Then we saw the rain stop, with a few stray raindrops.
Of a sudden, the sky was clear blue.
But the path of the storm, and the death it performed,
Came fully into our view.
Dead cattle and a horse, along the storm’s course,
Gave the killer storm mute testimony.
Two cowhands were dead, and forty-one head
Of longhorns plus one cow-pony.
We grieved for our pards, and though it was hard,
We buried `em there on the plain.
Then I mounted my steed and resumed the deed
Of gathering the herd that remain.
Now we’ve made Abilene, but the sights that I’ve seen
Will stay in my nightmares without fail.
For I saw bodies fly, that hellish day in July,
When a cyclone hit out on the trail.
© Copyright 2010
Drop a Line to Ron
Call Ron at 785-537-9727 or email him at ron@ronscowboypoetry.com.
Original Cowboy Poetry Presentations
Ron Wilson is a relaxed entertainer, blending his unique insights on life with a down-home sense of humor appropriate for the whole family. All of his original poetry is family-oriented, patriotic, and has a particular appeal to folks who live in the country and appreciate the American west.
Ron appears in full cowboy costume, complete with the white hat worn by the good guys, and within seconds, he has audiences eager to listen and laugh. Who are those audiences? Well, just about anybody who wants to relax and have a good time. Ron speaks at farm and agribusiness conferences, FFA conventions, banking groups, co-op meetings, schools, customer appreciation meetings, clubs, festivals, reunions...you name the group, and Ron will tell you what a great time they had together!
Ron Will Write An Original Poem for Your Group
Ron offers a unique, money-back guarantee: He will write and present an orginal cowboy poem tailored for your group or event, or your money back. That's right, he'll provide a personalized, one-of-a-kind poem for your special event.
Examples where he has presented his creations range from the unveiling of the John Wayne Postage Stamp at the John Wayne Birthplace in Iowa and the groundbreaking of the Flint Hills Discovery Center, to family reunions and retirements. If you would like to honor a special person or organization in this unique way, contact Ron.
To arrange for Ron to speak to your group, call (785) 539-7899, or use the contact form for a prompt reply.
The following materials are made available to assist you in promoting your upcoming event featuring Ron Wilson, Cowboy Poet. Ron will present a program specific to your audience and feature an original poem about your organization.
For your convenience:
- High Resolution Photo of Ron Wilson, Cowboy Poet (for brochures and newspapers)
- Web Resolution Photo of Ron Wilson, Cowboy Poet
- Remarks You Can Use to Introduce Ron
- Noose Release - Basic news release that you can modify to promote your event
Order Books and CDs
Books and CDs by Cowboy Poet Ron Wilson
Wagon Tongue, a book by Ron Wilson
©2000, for sale for $10.00
Poet Lariat, a book by Ron Wilson
©2001, for sale for $10.00
Cowboy Collection, a CD collection by Ron Wilson
for sale for $10.00
Please add $3.50 for shipping and handling.
TO ORDER, call (785) 537-9727, or use the Contact Form and state which items you wish to purchase.