FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

36

Laura Vernon Hamner

Today's Challenge

The prairie wind was victor long ago.

wind, change, progress, civilization

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

37

Laura Vernon Hamner

Song of Civilization

Upon the plain the pulse of life beat strong.

change, progress, barbed wire, law, freedom

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

37

Laura Vernon Hamner

Plane Patterns

The plodding farmer, with plow and hoe.

farmer, progress, airplane, pilot, farming, God, belief, judgment, work, toil, sweat,

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

38

Laura Vernon Hamner

Banner of the West

From the center of that prickly whorl.

yucca, plant, flower, blossom, west

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

39

Laura Vernon Hamner

Frustration

I stand on the edge of the canyon's crest.

trail, end, travel, life

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

40

Laura Vernon Hamner

Things Etched Against the Sky

It is only hard things that are etched against the sky.

power, plains, prairie, dominance, skyline

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

41

Laura Vernon Hamner

My Choice

I was born in a woodsy place.

land, home, prairie, plains

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

42

Laura Vernon Hamner

Fruit of the Vine

My grapevines by the window bring.

spring, grapes, summer, winter, autumn, seasons

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

45

Laura Vernon Hamner

Not Snakes

Sam Smedley looked across the plains.

prairie dogs, drink, alcohol, DTs, visions

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

47

Laura Vernon Hamner

Harry Ingerton's Christmas Pudding

Two LX boys, not twenty yet.

holiday, food, foodways, plum pudding, Texas

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

49

Laura Vernon Hamner

Pecos Bill

Folks used to brag--as all Texans will.

bragging, Texas

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

52

Laura Vernon Hamner

Can You Top Old Blinkie?

Come alive, cowhand; git down in your wood.

bucking bronc, bronco, horse

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

53

Laura Vernon Hamner

Brandin' Time

The brandin' was a-hummin'.

branding, cooking, food, foodways, hunger, eating, roundup, work

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

57

Laura Vernon Hamner

Spring Finds a Breach in Dallas Walls

Strong surged the tides of spring against the urban citadel.

Texas, spring, seasons

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

58

Laura Vernon Hamner

None But Fools Ask for More

Man came to the desert to seek powers long hid.

contentment, desert

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

59

Laura Vernon Hamner

Weather Wise

From Washington Ben Lipscomb went.

politics, Indians, Hopi, Indian White relations

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

60

Laura Vernon Hamner

Romany Road Through Texas

A lover of peace am I, yet I've fashioned tools to kill.

caravan, gypsy, travel

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

62

Laura Vernon Hamner

Autumn is a Courtesan

She strums a tune on the river-rocks.

seasons

Prairie Vagabonds

FC 11 H-04

63

Laura Vernon Hamner

The Prairie Day Ends

The glory of the west turns dingy-gray.

evening, night

Frontier Ballads

FC 11 H-06

11

Joseph Mills Hanson

My Creed

Now, this is the simple, living faith of a humble heart and mind.

moderation, city vs. country, town

Frontier Ballads

FC 11 H-06

15

Joseph Mills Hanson

Dakota Militia

No "scare-heads" in big city papers.

Sioux, soldiers, army, frontier, history

Frontier Ballads

FC 11 H-06

18

Joseph Mills Hanson

The Girl of the Yankton Stockade

Yes, it's pretty, this town.

pioneers, Sioux, Indians, settlement, settlers, army, soldiers, stockade, fear, bravery, coward, cowardice

Frontier Ballads

FC 11 H-06

21

Joseph Mills Hanson

The Ballad of Sergeant Ross

The south wind's up at the break of dawn.

soldiers, army, frontier, Chief Black Bear, Indians, Sioux, confrontation, fight, white men

Frontier Ballads

FC 11 H-06

25

Joseph Mills Hanson

The Springfield Calibre Fifty

I was wrought of walnut blocks and rolled rod steel.

soldiers, army, frontier, rifle, gun, history, past, fighting, fight, war, Indians, West

Frontier Ballads

FC 11 H-06

28

Joseph Mills Hanson

A Garrison Christmas

Now, all you homesick rookies who are blue on Christmas Day.

holiday, past, history, soldiers, army, mail, hardship, Buford