In search of New Jersey cowboy poets

BY ERIC MODEL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

JOURNEYS INTO NEW JERSEY

Elko, Nevada is again turning into a unique center of the universe this week.

The small Nevada community is hosting The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, a week-long celebration of life in the rural West. It features the contemporary and traditional arts that arise from lives lived caring for land and livestock. The 27th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is taking place January 24-29, 2011. During this time the community will overflows with thousands of cowboys and cowgirls, poets and musicians, artisans and scholars, rural people and city folks from around America and abroad.

Produced by the Western Folklife Center, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering was started in 1985 by a small group of folklorists and poets, and has become an annual ritual for thousands of people who value and practice the artistic traditions of the region, and are concerned about the present and future of the West. Hundreds of cowboy poetry gatherings have since taken hold across the West and the nation over the last 25 years, as the Elko Gathering has reinvigorated a tradition that never ceased to be a part of the lives of cowboys, ranchers and rural westerners. In 2000, the U.S. Senate recognized the cultural value of this tradition and the event responsible for its renaissance when it passed a resolution naming the Elko Gathering the "National" Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

We have covered this event and spoken with a number of wonderful cowboy poets and artists over the years. Always seeking a Garden State connection we recently starting looking for Cowboy Gathering Poetry poets from New Jersey.

A month later we're still looking.

This is not to say that there have not been poets in the past. The Western Folklife Center, organizers of the event, was at first a bit bemused by our request. Once they got past the seeming absurdity of our request, they were able to supply us a list N.J. based poets who at one time have appeared at the Gathering. Unfortunately, none of the names led to functioning addresses and phone numbers.

cowboylogo012611_opt From this lack of present day N.J. cowboy poets at the Gathering, though, it would be wrong to conclude that there are not cowboy poets and those who support cowboy poetry in New Jersey.

For example, there's George Gamble. He hosts a radio show on WDVR- FM in Sergeantsville (89.7) called "Under Western Skies". It features cowboy and western culture in word and song.

George explains that on his show he strives to provide a wide scope of music and poetry under the genre of "western".

He is apt to focus on an artist, he says, if he can discern a "true or genuine quality to artistry". He mentions that some of his featured artists are in the beef or cowboy businesses.

Gamble's Western take is informed by his personal experiences — having lived in Texas for a few years, having traveled extensively in the American West. He calls Sandpoint, Idaho a second home of sorts.

Asked if it is difficult being "western" in our urbanized state, George provides a lengthier more complex answer.

"People at times get embroiled in arguments over what is or is not really western. To some folks, the type of bend in your hat brim counts, others think about the breed of horse or the type of transportation you drive matters".

He continued:

The hard thing about being western is making the fullest effort to really be western. Start with the old idea that "the horse drinks first, the horse eats first, the horse gets cooled and put up first". This line of thinking must be put into effect! If a horse or dog or man, works for you, then he or it or they must be given the care and respect which they have earned! This type of code is one to live by. Without looking for some form of recognition or reward, the westerner thinks and acts on behalf of the welfare of these being first. The real cowboy is always second to the needs of those who are dependent on him.

The "feeling western", concept is one that eventually gets replaced by the idea of "doing western", concept. The hat, the boots, the revolvers, the rifles, the horses, the art collections, are all just empty things until the person involved puts meaning into them and they in turn put meaning into him. There is a lot of slow hard work involved in doing this! When a person decided to embrace being western they have to start doing western.

Any fool can buy a horse with enough money. Is that person willing to be at the barn, in the dark of night, treating two swollen joints for mud fever? Is that person willing to take care of the horse when it needs grooming? Is that person willing to re-groom the horse when it takes a roll in the mud? Competition coming up? Well, is that same person willing to spend the time it takes to "correctly" school his pal? In order to place well?

As to the New Jersey connection to the cultural art form, George says he always feel western. He, at rare times, gets a little grief for wearing a western hat.

"That is the risk a fellow takes", he explains. "On the other hand my reward comes when a little boy or girl seeing me and my lid at the store. The smile and look on their face when they whisper "cowboy" to mommy is vindication enough".

Along with the hat, he continues, are expectations of you.

"You need to follow each line of the cowboy code. The elderly will hope that you will be gentle with them. The weaker or smaller person is never to get picked upon. Animals and people who are in hunger will see you as their best hope. You will be expected to do right by the laws of both God and Country. You will start to feel ashamed when you fail".

George cites two close friends who share his passion for western and cowboy culture.

One is D.J. — an American Paint Horse, gelding, of the Tobiano pattern. At 24 years old he is retired and not ridden much anymore. But in his time, "With him and his great mind and heart", D.J. partnered with George in many western events here in New Jersey. And according to George, they did "very well".

George's other friend, known as "Long Valley Jan" is, in fact, George's wife. She can frequently be heard on the air with George as he plays cowboy music and poetry.

The radio show, Under Western Skies, can be heard weekly on Saturday mornings between 6 and 9, and on a live audio stream at www.WDVRFM.org. George speaks of having listeners from many different state and even a few from other countries.

George Gamble may not be a "cowboy poet" as one attending the Cowboy Poetry Gathering this week. However, he is as authentic an ambassador for cowboy culture as you're ever going to find anywhere and he is right here with us in New Jersey.

Eric Model explores the "offbeat, off the beaten path overlooked and forgotten" on SIRIUS-XM Radio and at journeysinto.com.