Henry Real Bird

During this time, he read works from Longfellow, Tennyson, Thoreau, and Edgar Allan Poe, which inspired much of his writing .

[3] Real Bird remained on the pro rodeo circuit until 1980 when he finally hung up the saddle after years of continued pain.

[4] In the summer of 2010, as the poet laureate, Real Bird traveled by horseback 415 miles to distribute books of poetry.

Real Bird has also served on the Montana Advisory Committee on Children and Youth and the Crow Central Education Commission.

His poetry is drawn from a physical and spiritual duality and connection to his Crow tradition, the simplicity of his cowboy lifestyle, and the stark natural beauty of Montana.