This poem discusses the changing image of the American West over time. It describes how the stereotypical view of rough and dangerous western men is no longer accurate, as modern westerners are well-groomed and avoid violence. While the wildness of the past has been replaced by order and civility, the West still retains beautifully named places that harken back to its history. The poem uses places like Saskatoon and Walla Walla to represent the entire western region from Canada to Washington State.