More music than poetry, but both are excellent
Don't let the title fool you, this video is not 2 hours of droning poetry. It contains some of the finest music I have ever heard and watched. Michael Martin Murphey and the Sons of the San Joaquin do an incredible two versions of "Mi Corazon" that leaves you in tears. And anyone who has either sold or lost their farm or watched the years force many of your neighbors to move to town will also weep at "The Ones the Wolves Pulled Down".

And see and hear the late Buck Ramsey, author of one of the greatest poems ever written - "Anthem", sing and recite. (Yes, I said greatest poems not greatest cowboy poems - a short version is recited here, but read the full poem and see if you agree.) Enjoy comedy with Waddie Mitchell reciting poetry on buying his wife a bra or Paul Zarzyski on "Rocky Mountain Oysters".

My favorite has to be Don Edwards (seen in movie "Horse Whisperer") singing "Coyotes". Ian Tyson fans will get a treat also. And anyone who has ever loved a horse will love "The Pearl of Them All".

Even family members and friends who don't like Cowboy and Western poetry and songs have enjoyed watching this video. (And yes there is a HUGE difference between western and "country" music and this is NOT country music.)

Real American Western poetry to make you laugh and cry!
This is about the annual cowboy poetry competition in Elko, Nevada. Between the performances of poems and songs, the artists talk about what makes cowboy poetry special, why they do it, and why the competition at Elko is so important to them. This is the poetry of the American West at its best. Some of the songs and poems are sentimental and some of them are extremely funny. This is very much a family time as is the actual event. I would recommend this tape for anyone who wants to learn more about the music and poems of the cowboys and "the West" both past and present. This is real poetry from the hearts of real people and definitely worth hearing and reading.