A Cowboy Christmas
Francine Roark Robison
Sure is cold out here on this hill
That fire jest ain’t big enough;
Spendin’ Christmas Eve out here alone
Sure seems mighty rough.
But somebody had to see after th’ stock
An’ Bud—he’s got him a wife,
An’ Sonny went to check on his ma—
She won’t be long in this life.
An’ Charley now has got all them kids—
Couldn’t miss bringin’ ’em toys.
He’d whittled out whistles an’ tops an’ dolls
Every minute he’d spent with us boys.
So I was the one who got to ride herd—
Didn’t have no fam’ly near,
An’ it’s mighty cold in this line camp,
But, say, ain’t th’ sky awful clear?
There’s stars hangin’ low, almost to touch,
An’ snow sparkles here on th’ ground
Peaceful as can be on this Miracle Night—
A lonely coyote’s th’ only sound.
I remember th’ stories Ma used to read
From th’ Bible, big an’ black,
’Bout how God sent His Son to be born on this night
To point men to th’ right track.
She told me ’bout Mary an’ Joseph
An’ Wise Men an’ shepherds that came—
Like me—’cept I’m keepin’ cattle, not woolies,
But I reckon it’s sorta th’ same.
An’ on that long-ago night, men saw th’ star
An’ followed it to where He lay,
Just like men still look for God
Each an’ ev’ry day.
So sure, it’s cold out here tonight
An’ lonely by th’ fire,
But I’ll jest remember that other time
An’ listen for th’ angel choir.
An’ maybe I’m th’ lucky one,
Spendin’ tonight out here,
’Cause stars hang low in a prairie sky
An’ th’ Child seems mighty near.
So I thank you, Father, for your Gift
An’ for lovin’ us so much—
I’ll look an’ wonder just which Star was
Th’ sign of your heavenly touch.
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