We’ve had more than our fair share of cowboy poets on this show, Baxter Black and Paul Zarzyski have each contributed commentaries in the past. We even met up with Baxter for dinner in Tucson, Arizona, recorded the wacky conversation and put it on the air – but this entry is about the third amigo. Wally McRae is a bona fide cowboy, the third generation of his family to run a 30,000 acre cattle ranch in southeast Montana. Bob talked with McRae in his cozy ranch house in the middle of the winter in big sky country. McRae reads and recites poems for Bob and we also hear McRae performing his poems on stage in front of a live audience. He’ll be doing that again in a few weeks at the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. The event runs from January 24 through January 31 and this is its 25th year.
Click here to see a video of Wally McRae reciting his favorite poem “Things of Intrinsic Worth.”
Here’s the podcast of Wally McRae and Bob. (NOTE: The first 30 minutes are with author Stephen Baker about data mining and The Numerati)
Click here for a podcast of bonus conversation between Bob and Wally.
-Chad
I'm trying to get in touch with Wally McRae, poet, for permission to use one of his poems "My Requiem" in a memoir I'm writing. My late husband was so touched by the poem, he requested it be read at his funeral.
I would appreciate any help you can give me.
Thanks.