FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Out Where the West Begins

FC 11 C-07

27

Arthur Chapman

Jim

Jest from Cattle Land, that's Jim.

strength, friendship, cheerfulness, happiness, Forty Mile, gentle, women

Out Where the West Begins

FC 11 C-07

29

Arthur Chapman

The Herder's Reverie

The sheep are down at the water, a-drinkin' their bloomin' fill.

nature, calm, competition, fast life, cities, money

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

5

Ellie Corrigan

Slim

I've an early recollection `bout a giant of a man.

Montana, Idaho, father, child, admiration

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

7

Ellie Corrigan

Memories

We lived off up in the mountains; it's a long way out of town.

family, home, childhood, values

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

9

Ellie Corrigan

Bush heart

Art Hyle was a longtime rancher; up old Montana way.

Montana, bull, brother-in-law

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

11

Ellie Corrigan

Bossy Blues

Ole Barney went to milk one morn; a chore he's learned to hate.

milch cow, milking, chores, pup

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

13

Ellie Corrigan

Home Remedies

Dave's been stayin' `round the cabin; his spirits in a slump.

boil, behind, soreness, needle, home remedy

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

15

Ellie Corrigan

Cowboys

Cowboys are our heroes; the knights of western land.

cowboy, occupation

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

17

Ellie Corrigan

Rowdy

This cowboy's got a filly, that he's courtin' on the sly.

courting, marriage, husband, wife, pregnancy

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

19

Ellie Corrigan

Pards

This happened in Montana, on a ranch, Old Lazy Six.

Montana, runaway team

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

22

Ellie Corrigan

Ben

Ben rides through my memories since I was just a child.

admiration, work

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

24

Ellie Corrigan

The Lord's Prayer (smile)

The rain was drippin' off the eaves; it poured for a long while.

bunkhouse, The Lord's Prayer, wager, religion

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

26

Ellie Corrigan

Who's The Winner, The House or Me?

Did you ever stop to ponder the.

mouse, sermon, fear, laughter, teeth marks, humor

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

29

Ellie Corrigan

The Town Drunk

I've known some drunks in my day.

Wyoming, alcohol, liquor, booze, Luther, fun, jokes, children, manure, wagon, playing tricks

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

31

Ellie Corrigan

Crime Never Pays

Two old saddle pards headed home on a.

barley corn, bulletproof, bar, steal, Willie Booth, turkey, drunk, whiskey, argument, tricked, argue

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

33

Ellie Corrigan

From a Horse to a Model T

My young dad's no little feller standin'.

Irish-English, old times, horsepower, rodeo, truck, race, speed, team, racing

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

35

Ellie Corrigan

Amos

Speakin' o' drunks, ya gotta hear about.

bath tub, lethal weapon, wound, blood, injury, bandage on the mirror

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

37

Ellie Corrigan

Yesterday

"What are you doin' tonight?" they ask.

children, parent love, family, memories, grandchild

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

38

Ellie Corrigan

Rowdy and the Rafter Heart

We have a sure enough buckaroo on the Rafter Heart.

experience, love for horses, whiskey, silver teeth, hard worker, reliable, cowboy

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

40

Ellie Corrigan

It's Tough When It's Like That

When you think you've got it handled.

bronc, roping, whiskey

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

41

Ellie Corrigan

The Whopper

A couple a fellers deserted their job.

fishing, fat lady, playing a trick, anger, furious, rage, river

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

49

Ellie Corrigan

Sleigh Bells and Panic

It's Christmas time in Jackson.

cold, snow, Santa Claus, trick, child, curiosity

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

47

Ellie Corrigan

Chicken Feed

An old outsider stood by a big stump.

hen, town girl, nest, wound, cluck, chickens

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

45

Ellie Corrigan

Fresh Meat

It's a long old time from winter to spring.

hunting trick, snow, elk, sky, crash

I Was Born in the Night, But Not Last Night

FC 11 C-23

43

Ellie Corrigan

America, The Toddler

She was off across the ocean, on the other side of hell.

outlaw, slaves, homeland, puritans, pilgrims, England, ancestors, Colonies, freedom, battle