The Cowboy Cantos - Cowboy Poetry & Stories

In This Episode Of Cowboy Cantos , Jason Curtman shares the humorous tale of Old Buck, a cowboy whose horse has a habit of disappearing whenever the opportunity arises. After years of searching fence lines, creek beds, and neighboring ranches, Buck reluctantly embraces a little modern technology in the form of a GPS tracker, only to discover that while you may never change a horse’s nature, you ca...

Every cowboy has a story about the one that got away. This one happens to come with a side of fries. In today’s Cowboy Cantos, Jason Curtman shares a humorous tale of determination, trial and error, and one unexpected discovery that changed hamburger night forever. Along the way you’ll meet cast-iron skillets, old-fashioned diners, plenty of cowboy wisdom, and discover why sometimes the simplest i...

In this nostalgic and humorous Cowboy Canto, Jason Curtman tips his hat to one of the simplest pleasures of growing up in the country: drinking cold water from a garden hose on a hot summer day. While today’s world offers bottled water from glaciers, mountain springs, and exotic destinations, many of us remember a time when the finest drink on earth came from a green garden hose stretched across t...

A fractured kneecap put me on the sidelines and forced me to slow down for the first time in a long while. What followed was an unexpected journey that took me far from the trails I was used to traveling and into a world I never thought I’d explore. In this episode of Cowboy Cantos, I share a lighthearted tale about setbacks, surprises, and the strange places life can lead when our plans are sudde...

In this episode of Cowboy Cantos, Jason Curtman shares a humorous and heartfelt country story inspired by a real visit to his Uncle Lewis Wall’s farm outside Iberia, Missouri. What began as an ordinary afternoon stop quickly turned into a front-porch mystery involving a pile of turkey feathers, a nearby turkey farm, and one very suspicious shaggy black dog named Thor. With Uncle Lewis Wall calmly...

In this episode of Cowboy Cantos, Jason Curtman shares a humorous and heartfelt small-town tale about a grandmother whose famous pies became the stuff of family legend. For years, nobody, not friends, not neighbors, not even family, ever managed to get a slice. The mystery only deepened with every holiday gathering, every locked pantry door, and every unanswered question. Inspired in part by old c...

What started as a simple trip to Family Dollar turned into a full-scale backyard wreck involving leashes, mud, bruised pride, and a cat that appeared at exactly the wrong moment. In this episode of Cowboy Cantos, Jason Curtman shares the true story behind an unexpected January “stampede” that left him rolling through the mud and reconsidering a few life decisions along the way. It’s a fast-moving...

In this episode of Cowboy Cantos, Jason Curtman shares a personal confession about those dangerous little red peppers hiding in Kung Pao chicken... and how they reminded him of a cowboy he once knew named Horseradish Hank. Hank had a love affair with horseradish that bordered somewhere between dedication and self-destruction. He put it on roast beef, biscuits, popcorn, pie, banana bread, and just...

What happens when life hangs in the balance and the clock does not stop? In this unforgettable Cowboy Cantos, Jason Curtman shares a true story from a winter that tested everything, faith, family, and timing. Lying in a hospital bed with the odds uncertain, a major life decision still had to be made. What followed was a moment where belief and action came together in a way few ever experience. Thi...

Two cowboys settle in by a quiet campfire after a long day on the range. One keeps his hands busy with a knife while the other listens as the talk turns to supper and a certain batch that did not quite meet expectations. What begins as simple complaining turns into something more as the night stretches on and a small moment reveals a bigger idea. This is a public episode. If you would like to disc...

In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason Curtman shares a tale from a young man’s early days in the saddle—when confidence came easy… and understanding came hard. What begins as a simple ride quickly turns into something unexpected. The kind of moment that tests your nerve, shakes your certainty, and reminds you that not everything is as wild—or as clear—as it first appears. It’s a story about per...

In this Cowboy Cantos feature, a simple stop at a hat shop turns into something more than just a search for a better fit. What starts as a routine decision becomes a quiet reminder about perspective, expectations, and the way we measure value. It’s a story that reflects a truth most of us run into sooner or later—sometimes the answer isn’t found in what’s new, but in how we see what’s already in f...

Not every first date goes the way you expect… and some leave a little less behind than they started with. In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason Curtman shares a lighthearted but telling story about a night out that slowly turns into something far more curious than just supper. What begins with easy conversation and a promising start takes an unexpected turn as small details begin to add up and...

Back when I was younger, I had a habit I never questioned. Every day at five, I’d set my watch by the courthouse clock. Trusted it. Counted on it. Never thought twice. From where I stood… it looked right. Then one day, an old cowboy said something to me that made me take a closer look. And what I found…Changed the way I look at a lot more than just time. Years later, when my boy came to me talkin’...

Some memories stay with us not just in photographs or stories, but in the sound of a song that brings them back to life. In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason reflects on a powerful childhood memory of his grandfather, E.F. Gibson, whose deep faith and devotion left a lasting mark on everyone around him. What began as a simple Sunday morning tradition became something far more meaningful — a li...

Sometimes the quietest mornings can make a cowboy the most uneasy. In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason Curtman shares an original poem inspired by a simple remark from a visitor in Wickenburg, Arizona—someone who looked around at the open skies, calm streets, and desert stillness and said, “Seems like out here, you don’t have much to worry about.” But cowboys know better. When the saddle’s ti...

This episode of Cowboy Cantos explores how something as simple as fried chicken can carry the weight of a lifetime of memories. The poem reflects on the unmistakable flavor of perfectly seasoned, skillet-fried chicken — crisp on the outside, tender on the inside — and the quiet satisfaction that comes with food made the old-fashioned way. Beyond taste, this piece recalls family kitchens filled wit...

In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason Curtman shares an original Western poem about perspective, pride, and the long memory of the land. Ol’ Jake is ridin’ fence on a hot day when a run-in with a cactus turns into something unexpected — a conversation. What follows is a reminder that the West has seen more than any one cowboy ever will. Through humor and reflection, The Cactus Witness explores:...

In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason spins a tall but thoughtful yarn inspired by a true story — the remarkable real-life adventure of Larry Walters , whose unforgettable flight proved that imagination and nerve can sometimes carry a man higher than common sense ever would. What begins as an unusual solution becomes a lesson in ingenuity, humility, and the quiet wisdom that comes from looking...

Cowboy Hat Etiquette A cowboy’s hat is more than something to keep the sun off—it’s a symbol of respect, tradition, and the quiet rules of the West. In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason Curtman reflects on the customs, superstitions, and unwritten code that ride beneath a well-worn brim. Through poetry and storytelling, we explore why a hat matters, what it says about the rider, and how knowin...

Sometimes a change of scenery doesn’t bring the rest we expect. In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason Curtman shares an original poem that takes a humorous look at vacations gone sideways—when good intentions, glossy brochures, and high hopes meet the reality of the trail. The Cowboy’s Vacation! is a lighthearted reminder that not every getaway delivers peace and quiet, and that a little planni...

n this canto, a quiet stretch of trail becomes the meeting ground for two very different kinds of horsepower. A cowboy on horseback and a biker on blacktop share a moment at Whiskey Tree Bend—each confident in his ride, each certain of what power means. What follows isn’t a race, but a reflection on speed versus soul, noise versus trust, and modern muscle meeting old-world grit. Horsepower Showdow...

In this episode of Cowboy Cantos , Jason recalls a conversation with a young ranch hand who claimed you could spot a real cowboy by the manure on his boots. That simple truth made Jason pause and reflect, shifting how he thought about cowboys and the different ways they show up in the world. Out of that reflection, he shared some wisdom with the rancher - laying out three kinds of cowboys he’d com...

Welcome back to Cowboy Cantos ! In this episode, Jason Curtman shares a humorous, heartfelt poem inspired by a story he first heard decades ago - a tale so memorable he believes it’s rooted in truth. This story became the very first blog post at cowboycantos.com , and now it’s brought to life on the airwaves. The Great Cake Caper tells of Miss Laverne Mae Jenkins, a church widow who forgot to bake...

In this episode, Jason shares The Duck Dog - a humorous hunting tale turned poem. Inspired by his younger brother’s story, a college roommate, and one unforgettable punchline, this piece blends tradition, wit, and the kind of marshland memory that sticks. Thanks for reading and listening to The Cowboy Cantos! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This post is public so feel...