Love and Romance

Where it surfaces

• The Dance at Silver Valley

  Broncho Bill's love for Belle McClure drives the conflict, leading to his jealous threat and ultimate demise.

• Lasca

  The narrator's intense, all-consuming love for Lasca is central, marked by passion, jealousy, and ultimate sacrifice.

• The Transformation of a Texas Girl

  The poem highlights the sudden romantic attention she receives after her transformation, with suitors vying for her hand.

• The Clown’s Baby

  The clown's tender care for the baby and the mother's trust reflect a deep, familial love that transcends the harsh setting.

• Marta of Milrone

  The narrator's deep love for Marta drives the narrative, from their joyful rides to his vow of vengeance after her death.

• Part II: The Cowboy Off Guard

  The chapter is dominated by expressions of romantic love, from bashful proposals to hopeless longing, using ranch metaphors like roping and branding.

• A Cowboy’s Worrying Love

  The entire poem centers on the cowboy's unexpected and consuming love for a woman, contrasting his former mockery of romance.

• The Cowboy and the Maid

  The poem centers on a cowboy's bashful proposal and the narrator's playful encouragement, culminating in a romantic kiss under the moonlight.

• A Cowboy’s Love Song

  The entire poem is a declaration of love for Susie, using cowboy metaphors like 'roped and tied' and 'branded' to express devotion.

• A Border Affair

  The central theme of the poem, depicting a passionate but doomed cross-border romance.

• Snagtooth Sal

  The narrator's deep affection for Snagtooth Sal is central, expressed through memories of their walks and his grief.

• Love Lyrics of a Cowboy

  The entire poem is a declaration of love, portraying the beloved as a transformative, almost holy figure and the time spent with her as a dreamlike paradise.

• The Bull Fight

  Juan brings his Pepita into town, and their relationship frames the entire festival, emphasizing romantic devotion amidst the spectacle.

• The Cowboy's Valentine

  The poem is a romantic proposal couched in the language of cattle ranching, blending affection with cowboy identity.

• A Cowboy’s Hopeless Love

  The cowboy's intense but hopeless love for a city woman, which he compares to reaching for the moon.

• The Chase

  The narrator's pursuit of the maid is driven by romantic desire, interpreting her flight as a flirtatious invitation.

• I Want My Time

  The speaker's deep yearning for his beloved, driving his resolve to leave the round-up.

• Song of the Cattle Trail

  The cowboy's motivation is his love for a girl waiting at home, whose 'lamp gleams along the level' and inspires his return.

• A Cowboy’s Son

  The poem contrasts a mother's love with the idealized, almost celestial love of a future sweetheart, questioning which will ultimately hold the boy's heart.

• A Cowboy Song

  The cowboy's devotion to Lolita drives his actions, including theft, to secure a future together.

• A Nevada Cowpuncher to His Beloved

  The poem is a heartfelt expression of romantic devotion, with the cowboy's every thought and observation tied to his beloved.

• The Cowboy to His Friend in Need

  The speaker's affectionate address to his revolver—'I love you, you blessed old son-of-a-gun'—romanticizes the bond between a cowboy and his weapon, framing it as a loyal friend.

• Denver Jim

  A mother's love for her son is the central force that overturns the death sentence, showing love's power over law.

• The Sheep-Herder

  His dreams of Minnie and plans for a future together provide emotional contrast to his lonely present.