Customer Reviews

Time Not Measured By A Clock

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In Carole Jarvis's long-awaited book, "ime Not Measured by a Clock," she tenders her world and her experiences in impressive prose and poetry -- and every word rings true. Whether she is telling a humorous ranch-wife story or waxing poetic about the land, her knowledge and honesty lay a firm foundation for engaging work. Her memorable tales leave you feeling that you've shared her well-lived days.

Jarvis grew up riding in the Southern California orange groves and fields that gave way to what is Disneyland today. She was raised on matinee Westerns and longed for "a ranch, a cowboy, and a horse." After that cowboy (or his horse, maybe) swept her off her feet, she left the worlds of make-believe for years of cowboying and ranching across the West.

One of her best known poems, "I'm Glad I Still Live With There's Cowboys" gets the collection off to a strong start, and its last stanza shows where the heart of her writing begins: "'...cause they're men on good terms with life. And in them, the spirit of the West still lives; I should know, I'm a cowboy's wife." Another, "The Home Ranch," addresses even deeper roots: "It could be in Montana or Idaho...the sandhills of Nebraska, Utah's red rocks, Arizona's wide-open ranges..." because in all of those places "Life out there means cattle, and horses and land, and the ranchers who still meet the test, Because somewhere, ever, even as today, they remain the soul of the West." Complementing those poems, "Winter Years," a prose piece, is a polished gem, an exceptional view of what's "inside" a cowboy.

Jarvis moves expertly and effortlessly among moods and styles, at ease with humor as well as quiet reflection. "Lovin' the Life They're Livin'" is a tribute to working cowboys, written as only someone who has served countless meals to hands and who respects them and their ways could. "A Cowdog's Life" takes a creative look at ranch life from a fresh, four-legged perspective. "Catch" is a heart rending poem about a hard-working cowhorse, from his catch colt beginnings to the day he's turned out to pasture. "His Only Son" is a touching poem originally written during the Vietnam War, and is as relevant today as it was then. In "Curse on It!," her visiting mother, new to life among cowhands, gets an education and a broadened vocabulary.

Jarvis's writing often sparkles with humor, particularly in its descriptions of day-to-day ranch life as seen from a ranch wife's point of view. "Attention Ranching and Farming Wives!" captures some of her hard-earned wisdom in its "night school courses" for women who are "married to, or thinking of becoming, the wife of a cowboy, rancher, or farmer" with course offerings from "Creative Hairstyles" to "How to Make $1000.00 or More a Year Profit in Ranching." Classes are held on Sundays, from 11PM to 3AM, "the most likely time women interested in these subjects could make the class."

"Payin' Attention" captures some of the natural differences in perspective between a working ranch couple. He says: "I told ya' once, it's the second gate, and leave the dang thing open! Close the one with the fingertrap; that's where they'll water -- I'm hopin'." But she sees more than fence and cattle, and other things capture her attention: "... above me there's a red-tail hawk, and I watch him circle and soar, Then into the wind he dips and turns, with the grace of a matador." The work gets done, though each would tell about their day differently.

Her husband, Dan Jarvis, does get his say in this book. He was the cowboy on that shining black filly who rode into her life over forty-five years ago. His four solid poems of cowboy life add fitting counterpoint to the collection.

The book ends with moving observations in the story of "When the Time Comes to Leave" and its eloquent companion poem, "Leaving the Homeplace," where "...what remains of what used to be, are memories, shadows, and space."

There are nearly 50 pieces in this well crafted book, along with photographs and sensitive illustrations by Larry Bute that unfailingly match the spirit of the writing. In the foreword, Gary Vorhes, retired editor-in-chief of Western Horseman, praises Jarvis's poetry, and says that when it was received at the magazine, it "fit us like a warm coat on a cold morning." The book is published by Cowboy Miner Productions, and reflects their usual high standards. 

Margo Metegrano, editor, CowboyPoetry.com