Wally McRae: Cowboy and a Poet

Mix equal portions of Montana cowboy and modern society, add a dash of humor, heap on the social commentary -- the result is the internationally renowned cowboy and poet, Wally McRae.
Here is a short film I did with Wally McRae out on his land here in Eastern Montana. Beautiful time of day, sun was setting, and he recited a very powerful poem about the mining in this area. An exclusive and private performance from a true cowboy and poet.
His poem "Reincarnation" has entered the oral tradition of cowboy poetry as a classic recitation and he's presented his poems to rave reviews at Cowboy Poetry Gatherings and Folklife Festivals nationwide. He has also received the Governor's Award for the Arts in Montana, was the first cowboy poet to receive the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Award and was nominated by former President Bill Clinton to serve on the National Council of the Arts.
"Cowboy Magazine" writes "Wally brings humor and insight to anyone who ever... sat on a horse (or wanted to)." and "Western Horseman" says, "His poetry is something like the Montana landscape - the years and wind take away anything that isn't solid as bedrock. McRae not only knows how to make you listen, he has something to say that's worth listening to."
*He is #42 out of 100 of the most influential Montanans of the last century. One behind Gary Cooper, THE Gary Cooper. (Missoulian)*

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• colstrip
• montana
• poem
• sunset
• horses

[mussman717word]

I'm way more into free verse poetry, but this does it's genre justice. The imagery is precise, and he seems like a very interesting man to be around. By the way, you picked a great "theme song," lol. Frusciante is a genius, too.

[Spooly]

@mussman717word Glad you appreciated the Frusciante soundtrack. Haha. I love his music. Thought it would click with this cowboy poetry piece. :)

[Sydneydear]

yeah, coal and cattle company players....do they still have that in Colstrip?

[Spooly]

no they do not... John Williams though, I know I have seen him in pictures from the players, he must have been part of it, he is the mayor now of Colstrip.

[Sydneydear]

Hey it is good to see someone from home. Remember the Cowardly Lion Wally?

[Spooly]

actually, I don't. I might be a bit too young (27). Is that the same Wally McRae?

[880CHEVYMAN]

I hope people stay out of Montana and Wyoming. America needs ranches and farms NOT golf courses and wal-marts .

[FBIundercover51]

Great cowboy poet and tribute to a by-gone era! WY and MT are being raped for the greed and want of the nation! The family ranch-farm cannot survive bein absorbed by corporate America as a tax write off! So sad the demise of rural America!

[ODFulks]

The father of a friend of mine use to recite a cowboy poem believed to be titled: "Nevada Slim" which was obtained from a small publication, published prior to WWII...Characters in this poem are: Nevada Slim, Lilly Lee, Bar C Mail, Marty Boon. In this poem, Marty Boon had lied and told Lilly Lee that Nevada Slim had married, so he, Marty Boon, could marry Lilly Lee. Nevada Slim finds out and there is a gun fight. dwaynefulks@ yahoo.com if the answer is yes. I have it.

[ODFulks]

Do you know a poem believed to be titled "Nevada Slim?" I have it, and it was recited by a now deceased father of a friend of mine. It is a very cool cowboy poem taken from a pamphlet or small booklet prior to the beginning of WWII

[dalewilbur]

My Dad use to recite many of Wally Mc Rae's poems. I never who he was until my Dad introduced me to his work. Dad has been gone now for 12 years , but Mc Rae brings back awesome memories with his poems.

A great poet, thanks Mr McRae

[washappin]

great. i can really relate. most folks wont appreciate what they have till its gone, and thats sad. but i love wallys poetry, and this piece is special. Im gald to have some people out there that still care how it used to be done. with the sweat and toil of work, and pride in the things you've accomplished at the end of the day. I would never trade my lifestyle for anything. thanks for sharing.

[Lemrac4]

Yes, Joel...Wally played the Cowardly Lion in "Wizard of Oz"...Coal & Cattle production....which I was also in as a Munchkin and an Emerald City Citizen! He was my director in the first play I was in...when I played a French maid!! lol Wally was awesome in the plays and as a director!! <3

[packjim56]

I wish fisherman poets were organized like you cowboy poets. There isn't any "fisherman poets' festival" like you cowboys have in Elko. Or if there is, I'm not aware of it. Anybody knows different, let me know. I owned a horse once and it threw me off its back and ran away to a feed store. I could write a poem about that. But I'd still be a poser, since I was 14 at the time. That doesn't qualify me as a real cowboy. Don't sport fish anymore . So I guess I don't qualify for that club either.

[cusanusnicolas]

I'd just like to ask Wally, as a person born in Montana, re the poem Malcom and the Stranglers, what was the last name of Aunt Alice. This is really important to me, not sure how to get ahold of Wally to ask, or if someone else knows.