Leaning H poem

[webfoot]

Our old friend leaning H has been making the big time with his poetry. He use to share his talent some with us. I miss him not doing that anymore so I copied one to share here. Hope he doesn't get mad at me for doing it.

Darrell Holden​

A cowboy, just a cowboy,
It’s all I’ve ever cared to be.
I don’t need fame or fortune,
They hold no appeal for me.

Cities with their chaos,
Simply spook away my hope.
I’ll stay out here where it’s empty,
With good horses I can lope.

Most say my life’s fruitless.
Fancy house and cars, the norm.
But I feel a little sorry for,
Those who must conform.

And who are they to judge me?
What makes them qualified?
Hell, they’ve never owned a saddle,
They work for money, not their pride.

They’ve never seen a morning,
In the middle of the fall.
The perfection of the mountains,
Soaked in the wonder of it all.

They’ve never seen a new calf,
Stand on wobbly knees.
His mother talking quiet,
To set his new life with ease.

They’ve never spent a summer,
Makin’ circles across the range.
No, they’re stuck inside a cubicle,
But I’m the one that’s strange?

They’ve never stepped a straddle,
A big stout two year old.
Felt his muscles tighten,
When the mornin’s kinda cold.

They’ve never smelled the sage brush,
Seen the cactus all in bloom.
Never survived a wicked drought,
Felt rain chase away the doom.

Never heard the silence,
Felt the peace that it can bring.
Never listened by a camp fire,
To the coyotes when they sing.

Never been invested,
As a steward of the land.
Never felt the pride well up,
Seein’ cattle wear their brand.

A cowboy, just a cowboy,
It’s all I’ve ever cared to be.
Your approval does not matter,
You do you. I’ll do me.

Darrell Ekker Holden
October 19th 2025

 

[Faster horses]

I liked that so much when he posted it on FB I shared it on my FB page.
He is really getting around. He is one of the featured cowboy poets at the Elko Cowboy Poet gathering
in January. I found one that he recited and it was very good. I'll see if I can find it again and post it here.
Thanks for sharing that, Webfoot.

 

[webfoot]

They even interviewed on the cowboy channel in Vegas during the NFR. I went down to Elko to watch him. I think it was an unannounce audition. That was before he got invited to the big show. Met him and talked to him. He was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. He has certainly come a long ways since then.

 

[Faster horses]

They even interviewed on the cowboy channel in Vegas during the NFR. I went down to Elko to watch him. I think it was an unannounce audition. That was before he got invited to the big show. Met him and talked to him. He was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. He has certainly come a long ways since then.

Oh. Right. That's where I heard him recite the poem. He had a link to all of it. Pretty big stuff, I thought.
He had mentioned he was going to be interviewed on the Cowboy Channel but we missed it. Neat that you got to go IN PERSON!! We can say "we knew him way back when." Right? I'm glad for him that he gets to do this.

 

[Faster horses]

Here is the interview on the Cowboy Channel:

 

[webfoot]

The next time I see him I am going to ask if he remembers us little people.

The other time I saw him preform was at Jordan Valley. Friday night of the Big Loop. He had some of the McKenzie kids literally rolling on the floor laughing with one of his poems. The one problem with Jordan Valley is the show got over after dark. There is no where to stay there. You either bring a tent or drive 50+ miles back north on highway 95 meeting lots of trucks. None of those truck have a dimmer switch on their head lights. But Darrell and Annie McKenzie sure put on a great show

 

[Older Whiskey]

The next time I see him I am going to ask if he remembers us little people.

The other time I saw him preform was at Jordan Valley. Friday night of the Big Loop. He had some of the McKenzie kids literally rolling on the floor laughing with one of his poems. The one problem with Jordan Valley is the show got over after dark. There is no where to stay there. You either bring a tent or drive 50+ miles back north on highway 95 meeting lots of trucks. None of those truck have a dimmer switch on their head lights. But Darrell and Annie McKenzie sure put on a great show

Mark February 19-21 on your calendar and you can see H in Alpine, Texas in the beautiful Big Bend country. The same weekend, you can also make a short trip east to Bastrop in Hill Country and see Anne MacKenzie. I was surprised they have both these yearly Texas cowboy poetry gatherings on the same weekend.

Sad that a few of the oldies won't be making it due to health.

I wonder if one of our former members won't also be there. I forget the guys name that did front porch mandolin and had the story about losing his wife and his dog among other things. I think he lived near Bastrop.

I recommend anyone that loves range ranch country and cowboy poetry and stories, to attend these. If you have never been to Texas ranch country, then maybe time for a trip.

H's schedule in Alpine

Fri 10:30 - 11:45 AM A Taste of the Gathering H reciting as are all 14 performers.

Fri 1 - 1:45 PM Whip and Spurs -- H is guest speaker

Fri 2-3:15 PM Making a Hand -- H is guest speaker

Fri 3:30 - 3:45 Back in the Day -- H is show host

Sat 3:30 - 4:45 The Wild Bunch -- H is guest speaker

 

[webfoot]

Better yet. Go to Elko Nevada January 26 through 31. A whole lot closer for me and the entire world of cowboy poetry will be there.

Weather permitting I will be there. I just need to figure which days H will be preforming so our schedules match up.

 

[Older Whiskey]

Better yet. Go to Elko Nevada January 26 through 31. A whole lot closer for me and the entire world of cowboy poetry will be there.

Weather permitting I will be there. I just need to figure which days H will be preforming so our schedules match up.

Actually only a very small amount of poets. More musicians, crafts folks, workshops, some storytelling, and other ranch and western related happenings. Here is H's sked and also Annie. Do you know Dick Warwick from Oakesdale, Wa.? He will be there also.

H has risen to the top and not only as a performer, but a teacher. I admire H for holding true to the old campfire and chuckwagon style.

Tues 7-830 PM Beyond the Fence Line -- H and a few others

Wed 10-3 PM Let's Write -- a poetry workshop with professor H $50

Thurs 6 PM: What it Takes --- Anne MacKenzie and few others.

Thurs 8-9:30 PM: Lost in Translation --- H and a few others $50/$40

Fri 6-7:30 PM Words are Medicine -- H and ML Smoker -- $90/$45

Sat 1-2:15 PM Ranch Family Show -- Anne and others -- $90 or free to ticketed ranch families.

 

[Nicky]

Mark February 19-21 on your calendar and you can see H in Alpine, Texas in the beautiful Big Bend country. The same weekend, you can also make a short trip east to Bastrop in Hill Country and see Anne MacKenzie. I was surprised they have both these yearly Texas cowboy poetry gatherings on the same weekend.

Sad that a few of the oldies won't be making it due to health.

I wonder if one of our former members won't also be there. I forget the guys name that did front porch mandolin and had the story about losing his wife and his dog among other things. I think he lived near Bastrop.

I recommend anyone that loves range ranch country and cowboy poetry and stories, to attend these. If you have never been to Texas ranch country, then maybe time for a trip.

H's schedule in Alpine

Fri 10:30 - 11:45 AM A Taste of the Gathering H reciting as are all 14 performers.

Fri 1 - 1:45 PM Whip and Spurs -- H is guest speaker

Fri 2-3:15 PM Making a Hand -- H is guest speaker

Fri 3:30 - 3:45 Back in the Day -- H is show host

Sat 3:30 - 4:45 The Wild Bunch -- H is guest speaker

Haymaker?

 

[Older Whiskey]

Haymaker?

That sounds right.

 

[DosArroyos]

You might ought to pick one or the other to attend.That littl,short drive between Alpine and Bastrop is a 7 hr one.
Everything is bigger in Texas, remember? :)

 

[Older Whiskey]

You might ought to pick one or the other to attend.That littl,short drive between Alpine and Bastrop is a 7 hr one.
Everything is bigger in Texas, remember? :)

Alrighty then! Back in the day, I could do it in 6. I pick neither, even if I lived there. Too much commercialism.

 

[Faster horses]

Better yet. Go to Elko Nevada January 26 through 31. A whole lot closer for me and the entire world of cowboy poetry will be there.It was

Weather permitting I will be there. I just need to figure which days H will be preforming so our schedules match up.

It was on my bucket list...thought we would make it...then the people we were going to go with couldn't make it...
Rooms fill up fast. H told me, so it won't happen this time.

 

[DosArroyos]

There is nothing moving fast between I10 and I35 anymore.A person could move quickly from Alpine to Junction,but between I10 and I35 is quagmire slow.

Mapquest shows the trip only taking 6 hours and 34 minutes, MC. I don't know when they timed the trip last or if it's just an estimation,but I'm guessing there have been a few million extra people moved into that area since you have driven it last. Let me tell you, It's packed.

 

[Older Whiskey]

It was on my bucket list...thought we would make it...then the people we were going to go with couldn't make it...
Rooms fill up fast. H told me, so it won't happen this time.

Many of the best events for 2026 are already sold out and any place worth staying is probably booked. What is crazy is to hear the "stars" recite, you pay $40-$90 just to hear 4 of them for an hour and a half. H is now a star and in the top shows. His show with ML Smoker, the Lakota Lady poet and storyteller, is $90 unless you have already paid for a general admission and then it is only $50.

 

[Older Whiskey]

There is nothing moving fast between I10 and I35 anymore.A person could move quickly from Alpine to Junction,but between I10 and I35 is quagmire slow.

Mapquest shows the trip only taking 6 hours and 34 minutes, MC. I don't know when they timed the trip last or if it's just an estimation,but I'm guessing there have been a few million extra people moved into that area since you have driven it last. Let me tell you, It's packed.

I can imagine! I haven't been there for 55 years. I have cousins at Bastrop and I was amazed how long it took them to drive to San Angelo when the last uncle died. Some of our old family ranches that once had 10,000 acres, are now subdivided and small acreages that attract wealthy horse enthusiast. From what I understand, it is getting more packed every day.

I understand that just driving anywhere in rural Hill Country, is almost like urban driving.

 

[webfoot]

We just get a day pass and don't go to the big higher pried shows. H told me his last one is one is on Saturday and it is just a day pass show. We are thinking of going down on Friday after I feed. Get there around 2:00. See whatever we can see that afternoon and evening. Leave Saturday afternoon. Edna's daughter and SIL have a ranch in McDermitt. Stop and spend the night. Get out of there in the late morning. 3 hour drive home. Get home while it is still light out to feed the cows. Of course it is depending on weather and roads. Why they have the show in the middle of the winter is something I question on occasions.

 

[Faster horses]

I can imagine! I haven't been there for 55 years. I have cousins at Bastrop and I was amazed how long it took them to drive to San Angelo when the last uncle died. Some of our old family ranches that once had 10,000 acres, are now subdivided and small acreages that attract wealthy horse enthusiast. From what I understand, it is getting more packed every day.

I understand that just driving anywhere in rural Hill Country, is almost like urban driving.

A horse trainer friend of ours lived and trained near Aubrey Texas. He has since moved because it was getting ridiculous. Took 30 minutes just to be able to pull out on the highway. Now that is happening where he moved to. We feel that here in NE WY,
too many people. Where did ALL these people come from?

 

[webfoot]

A horse trainer friend of ours lived and trained near Aubrey Texas. He has since moved because it was getting ridiculous. Took 30 minutes just to be able to pull out on the highway. Now that is happening where he moved to. We feel that here in NE WY,
too many people. Where did ALL these people come from?

I was at a potluck on Tuesday. A son of one of the regulars who lives in California kept saying how development should and could happen in Baker. People repeatedly said we don't want that here. I kept my mouth shut but was thinking you could get tarred and feathered for even suggesting that.