Cowboy Poetry

Grant County Journal
November 29, 2010
By Janet Warren
Journal columnist

I never thought I’d be a fan of cowboy music or poetry. Glen Bair changed all that. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you about the cowboy poetry event that took place at White Trail Grange on November 6th, put on by Columbia River Cowboy Heritage Association. Musicians came from all over to perform at this event mostly for the pure joy of sharing since they weren’t paid. Some of them had CDs to sell, like George and Silver from Tampico, Washington. As George said, “They’re not free, but they’re reasonable as hell.” I’m not sure why I thought that was so hilarious; I guess you had to be there. I like their music because it is real. Much of cowboy music and poetry deals with a relationship with horses, land, and the elements. In one of Silver’s poems she talks about “smoothing the wrinkles in my soul.” I love that word picture.
Don Ohlman hails from Burbank, Washington. He sang songs by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, easily keeping in the talk/song pattern of cowboy music interspersing his jokes.
The president of Columbia River Cowboy Heritage Association, Keith Anderson of the Pasco area was the next performer. He joked that he plays the banjo, “although not in public.” He recited some traditional cowboy poetry.
Robin Dale, from Walla Walla was dressed in a fabulous outfit. Knee-length leather jacket, hat, and all the trimmings. She is quite the yodeler. One of my favorites pieces was a poem she wrote about her experience of going with her friend to ride horses and realizing she forgot to put her horse in the trailer. I really love the fact that cowboy poets don’t have a problem making fun of themselves.
The last performer Mike and I were able to stay and hear was Glen Bair of Ephrata. The cowboy poetry that really resonates with me are the ones that come from true life experience, which is why I find Glen Bair’s poetry and songs so touching. I invited myself and my sidekick, Mike, over to Glen and RC Bair’s home and had a real treat as we visited with these unpretentious, down-to-earth farmers. I think RC is so talented. I was touched with how every wall in their home told a story of family. Above the fireplace was a beautiful framed work of heirloom Hardanger lace made by RC’s Danish grandmother. On another wall was a pillow cross-stitched with ‘My Family Tree is Full of Nuts.” But it was the bedroom doors that told the real story. Glen and RC raised 9 children, five boys and four girls, who now range in age from 19 to 39. On the bedroom doors, the children were able to choose how to decorate them, and they are painted by either them or RC. That told me that RC is the muse of the family who nurtured the creative abilities of her children. Many of them are exceptional artists. RC quilts, she cans fruit, she takes wonderful photographs and keeps scrapbooks. Someone once told Glen that she would trade her first-born son for a loaf of RC’s bread. Glen didn’t even know he was talented until he was almost 40 years old, and it was RC who encouraged him to find out. She dared him to “write some real poetry” after he wrote a poem RC didn’t much care for. It was over 20 years ago that Glen took RC up on her challenge and decided to write a poem for their upcoming 20th wedding anniversary. He was riding his tractor writing in a little notebook. This is the beginning of RC’s song:
“Worth It All”
20 years have come and gone since we tied the knot, and I made you my wife.
We didn’t know what time would bring, but said let’s work it out together all our life.
There have been broken hearts and tears of joy, both happiness and pain we shared along the way
And looking back it has been worth it all--I love you more than all the words I know can say. (Songs of Life CD)
As he was riding his tractor and writing the words, he began to hear music in his head. He didn’t know much about music, so he turned to his friend Nadine Adams (I believe it was her first-born son who was up for grabs for a loaf of bread). Nadine helped Glen put the poem to music and it grew from there. He attended a Cowboy Poetry event in Pendleton, Oregon and “fell in love.” Glen now has two CDs, “Songs of Life,” and “The Smell of Hay,” as well as five books of poetry. The bio on his CD says: “Glen has performed at numerous cowboy poetry gatherings around the Northwest. He once opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at the Grant County Fair: ‘I got $150, they got $15,000’, he says with a smile.” Glen does not take himself too seriously, and I am not even sure he realizes how talented he is. His music and poetry come from events that have taken place in his busy life. As Glen says, “When they come from in here,” pointing to his heart, “they are the best.” One of Glen’s favorites is “Through My Office Window.” Here’s a sample, midway through the poem:
To see that big orange harvest moon
And to watch the big dipper turn,
Is somehow worth more than the money
That those Wall Street people earn.
The ending paragraph reads:
But suffice it to say, I’m sure thankful
That my window is the sky.
So, I’ll deal with the work and the stress—I hope,
Till the day that I lay down and die.
Glen has spent almost 40 years farming hay, corn, wheat, beans and peas. He also farmed potatoes for a large manufacturer. After 38 years of growing potatoes, Glen got a letter telling him an executive decision led to cutting out all the small farmers. “I worked for them for 38 years and didn’t even get a gold watch,” Glen said with a wry smile. There’s a poem in there, Glen. I can just feel it.