C.M. Russell Poetry Contest Winner, 2005

  BRIAN BRANNON

                            

                     
             Angels A-Hossback

I've noticed a mite of confusion of late
'bout what a cowboy was and should be
Some seem to think they was angels or somethin'
well, that's how it seems to me

You hear 'em blatherin' on and on
'bout the way things used to be
How cowboys kept a civil tongue
and always said tinkle for pee

They seem to know a blisterin' bunch
'bout rangeland etiquette and such
Wear a white hat, wash 'hind your ears
and never touch liquor that much

I wonder who they imagined it was
back in Charlie Russell's day
that chased the big Texas herds up north
and what those gents had to say

I can picture one of them crusty galoots
with a finger caught tight in a dally
Oh Dear, Oh me, Oh drat, My gosh
Please pass the green tea Sally

 Now I've been studyin' on this hard my friends
'cause it reflects just a bit on yours truly
'See, I like a beer, and my speakin' coarse
and my countenance's wild and curly

So it's bothered me some the way they go on
made me feel outta place in "the west"
But to prove that I'm learnin' I'll keep my mug shut
'n play these last cards real close to my vest
Sure we all grew up lovin' Roy and Dale
bein' good little cowpokes it seems
But you etiquette folks musta up and forgot
THEY WAS HOLLYWOOD ACTORS ON SCREEN!!!

                                             Brian Brannon ©2005

  

 

 

 When East Meets West by Charles M. 
                             Russell

 

 In a letter, Russell portrayed himself on his horse toasting his friend, Paris Gibson, on his 86th birthday.

 
      
           How would Russell have responded to Brannon's poem?

    His art gives an indication. He also expressed it in his book, TRAILS PLOWED UNDER, published in 1927. In an essay titled "Whiskey" he wrote:
             
   "The cowboy was the last of this kind [real adventurers], and he's mighty near extinct. He came from everywhere- farms,  big cities, and some of them from colleges. Most of them drank when they could get it.
    As I said before, they're all Injuns now since the Volstead law. Just the other day I'm talking to a friend. Says he, "It's funny how crazy an Injun is for whisky. A few days ago I'm riding along- I got a quart of booze in my saddle pocket. I meet an Injun. He sees what I got, and offers me the hoss he's riding for the quart. To a man that wants a saddle hoss, this one is worth a hundred dollars. I paid six for this moonshine."
      "Did you make the trade?" says I.
      "Hell no!" says he. "It's all the booze I got!"

      A few months before his death, Russell wrote an introduction about himself for the book.
 This is a portion of   what he wrote:

                                                A FEW WORDS ABOUT MYSELF
      . . . .  
          I have many friends among the cowmen and cowpunchers. I have always been what is called a good mixer - I had friends when I had nothing else. My friends were not always within the law, but I haven't said how law-abiding I was myself. I haven't been too bad nor too good to get along with.
       Life has never been too serious with me- I lived to play and I'm playing yet. Laughs and good judgment have saved me many a black eye, but I don't laugh at others tears. I was a wild young man, but age has made me gentle. I drank, but never alone, and when I drank it was no secret. I am still friendly with drinking men.
        . . . .

                                                                                Charles M. Russell

 


Brian Brannon- cowboy poet & guide, says:


      "The  thing that makes you appreciate country life is what makes you a poet. In his capacity s a licensed wilderness guide, he has been  all up and down the Rocky Mountain chain from Dawson in the Yukon, to Jackson Hole in beautiful Wyoming. He is a rich man in memories. And he says, "I ain't finished collectin' 'em until I kick the milk bucket over! He is from Alberta; and one of his favorite spots is the confluence of the Panther and the Dolmer Rivers. It's just on the eastern side of Banff National Park. There's an eastern facing grass-covered slope that has a couple spots of spruce growing on it Au Natural, that form a perfect" J "and a perfect "I"; (naturally it's know as the JI hill).  Brian says that when you ride through the canyon of the Panther and get your first glimpse of that mountain....it'll take your breath away. Then again, just about anywhere in Banff  will make any fool feel closer to the Great Spirit. He ought to know...he's a guide who has taken pack trips throughout the west.

         He has had three of his books of poetry published by Hancock House Publishers.   Brian is teamed with cowboy poet, Mike Puhallo, and cowboy cartoonist Wendy Liddle on their books- Rhymes on the Range, Can't Stop  Rhymin' on the Range, and Still Rhymin' On The Range .. 

               
         Bryan is at present working on a solo fourth book and a C.D., both tentatively titled Horse-packin' and Poetry.  You can read more of Brian's poems and obtain further information about his books on his web site:
                              http://www.brianbrannon.com            





  This is Brian Brannon trailing in to
 Yohetta after 11 hours on horseback.

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