Stacey Sue - 1930
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I. Biography Stacey Sue, otherwise known as Helen Cossitt, is known for her poetry. However this it is not typical poetry, it is Cowboy Poetry. Cowboy Poetry is defined as thought and
stories told with rhythm and rhyme, usually with a western theme. This style of poetry originated from the trail where pioneers had no instruments so they used rhyme and rhythm to entertain one another.
Sue's pseudonym evolved from her brother's nickname for her, Susie, and her hometown, Stacey, Montana. She was born in Miles City, Montana, in 1930. Sue grew up in a
one-room cabin, which is now a museum, back in the hills near Stacey, Montana. She attended a one-room school that she rode six miles to. She graduated from high school in
Miles City and went on to Billings Normal School. Later she taught school in Rosebud County for six years. Sue enjoys living in Montana because of the wide- open spaces and
western heritage. She has lived in Montana a total of thirty years. Although Sue had no desire to write when she was little, she is an accomplished poet. Her
motivation for writing is to attempt to preserve her stories for her grandchildren. She uses her experiences and memories when she was young to enchant the reader with tales of
pride in her grand children, and grandma's feather bed. Sue is also a talented artist and is starting to illustrate her own poems. She chooses to write Cowboy Poetry because she
enjoys the west and because her thoughts come out in rhymes. She has been featured in a variety of books and magazines. In addition to writing and publishing her poems, Sue also does poetry readings and
Cowboy Poetry Gatherings Pincher Creek in Canada; Medora, North Dakota; Lewistown, Montana; Valentine, Nebraska; Elko, Nevada; Salmon and St. Anthony, Idaho; and
Riverton Wyoming. She began by reading for her friends and family. She discovered that she enjoyed it and the people enjoyed hearing her poems, too. Now she reads her poetry
for clubs, schools, dinner parties, senior groups and colleges. Sue keeps writing because "not only is it fun to share your thoughts and stories with people, but to see them enjoy what you have to say." II. Literary Works
Her work can be found in these magazines. The Montana Poet Sue's poetry is compiled into these four books. Trail Thoughts, 1990 This essay was submitted by a student of Steve Gardiner, a teacher at Billings Senior High School in Billings, Montana.
Working Cowboy Magazine
Montana Press
Boots
Rural Electric
Trail Thoughts Two 1994
More Trail Thoughts
Ggee's Dilemma 1998