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COWBOY POET
"DOC" DALE HAYES
Way back when, he tried rodeoing for a while but a blindbucker convinced him he was a school teacher and since those many years ago his non-job focus has been on studying and recording tales of the cowboy way. He came by his love of western storytelling and cowboy poetry as a result of sitting in on bunk house bull sessions in Northern Arizona back in the late ’40s.
Accuracy in the Medium
"He said he was a cowboy poet and I guess he looked the
part.
He walked the walk and he talked the talk,
'Cause when he recited it came from down deep in the heart.
He thrilled the crowds and gloried in the thunderous applause,
Whether he was roping the bear or pulling the thorn out of
the cougar's claws.
He excelled at heading the herd and doing all that
While his wild rag flapped in the wind and he waved his
Stetson hat.
He was "cowboyed up" and he swore he could put the
bacon in the pan.
I believed him until I heard him orating on
About the renegade steer that was untouched by human
hand!"
2001, D.Hayes, All Rights Reserved
© Poets retain copyright to their work; obtain a poet's
permission before using a poem in any form.
"DOC" DALE HAYES
"DOC" DALE HAYES
Nesbitt, Manitoba, Canada
"Doc" Hayes is a professor at a public university in Manitoba, Canada. He runs a small grazing operation for cattle of relatives and neighbors back in the bush near Nesbitt, Manitoba and, each year travels to different gatherings and poetry festivals around North America. Way back when, he tried rodeoing for a while but a blindbucker convinced him he was a school teacher and so since those many years ago his non-job focus has been on studying and recording tales of the cowboy way. He came by his love of western storytelling and cowboy poetry as a result of sitting in on bunk house bull sessions in Northern Arizona back in the late '40s. For over forty years he has collected cowboy stories and remembrances of Canadian and American cowboys that often serve as a basis for his poetry. He has had several books of poetry, academic and western, published and his recent cd-rom Conversations With an Old Horse is made up of his own original poetry and several selected stories of the "Old West," backed up by several good traditional western musicians.
Cowboy Poets: Minstrels of the West
"Cowboy Poets: Minstrels of the West" makes you want to pack a bag and head north. The video's beautifully filmed performances and stunning scenery make for great armchair traveling to three top Canadian gatherings in Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia. The film opens with lush panoramas graced by "When Cowboys Rode as Kings" by Ben Crane (written by poet Bryn Thiessen); the song itself is worth the price of the video. The opening gathering scenes show Manitoba professor and poet Dale (Doc) Hayes reciting his "Shorty," with performances of the poem at all three gatherings artfully spliced together. And it just gets better in this professional, well-edited production that has aired on Canadian television.
You have a front-row seat and a free ticket to shows that include American and Canadian AWA-nominated poets Chris Isaacs, Mike Puhallo, and Thiessen, all giving polished performances of classics and their own work. Puhallo's recitation of his "Sacred Orb" as he saddles his horse is unforgettable. There is plenty of humor and a good selection of serious poetry. Excellent musical talent includes performances by Juanita Clayton (with an autobiographical yodeling song), Ray Martin (award-winning Manitoba musician) and Ed Brown (also an artist and poet).
There's a wonderful growing trend of poets, musicians, and fans crossing borders among gatherings in the U. S. and Canada, and this video should go a long way toward encouraging those migrations. The video is available postpaid for $25.00 (US); Shadowland Productions, 51070 Range Road 221, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8E 1G8; 866-269-2698
Review by Margo Metegrano, CowboyPoetry.com
COWBOY POETS: MINSTRELS OF THE WEST
A Video Collection of Cowboy Poetry and Music – Volume 1
What is the definition of cowboy poetry? Dale (Doc) Hayes explains it best: He recalls being in a poetry competition at a gathering in Alberta, Canada. "I felt I had the competition aced. Though the fellow sitting next me was feeling pretty confident, too. A mutual friend of ours got up and did a couple of poems. He wasn't a very dynamic poet, but a darn good one. Then he started doing this poem about having to put down his 14-year-old blue healer dog. I tell ya, a minute into the poem, and every woman in that audience was crying and most of the men were blowin' their noses, and I hit my friend in the ribs and said I think we just lost this poetry competition. Because he was talking about the everyday experience of a person’s life and that's what cowboy poetry is all about."Cowboy Poets-Minstrels of the West is a video collection of cowboy poetry and music. It is volume 1 of a series featuring some of Canada's finest, with a visit from an American icon. Forty-eight minutes of laughter and tears with poetry by Dale (Doc) Hayes, Mike Puhallo, Will Rogers Award Nominee and rancher- turned-poet, Bryn Thiessen.This production was produced in the summer of 2001, over the course of 10 days and three poetry gatherings. We visited the 2nd Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Brandon, Manitoba; the Pincher Creek Gathering in Alberta (largest in Canada); and a Cowboy Festival held at the Historic O'Keefe Ranch located near Vernon, BC.While producing this video, Hired Gun Productions put together a documentary, also titled Cowboy Poets-Minstrels of the West. This documentary will air across Canada in early 2002 on the Global Network. The US broadcast date is pending.
Cowboy Poets-Minstrels of the West
A Collection of Cowboy Poetry and Music - Volume 1
is available now for only $25.00 (US)
includes shipping and handling and applicable taxes.
Call 1-866-269-2698 to order by VISA
or mail a certified check or money order to:
Cowboy Poets
c/o Shadowland Productions
51070 Range Road 221
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8E 1G8
MORE OF HIS POEMS
Short Cut
The Woman's Side of the Story
Blowing Snow
The Modern-Day Value of the Tom Mix Ranch
Like Water and the Duck's Back
In Spite of All!
Your First Ride on a One Man Merry Go 'Round
Summer Pasture
The Day Old Ned Learned to Fly
Doc's Holiday Poems
A Gift for Mary Lou
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