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As heard on the Good Stuff with Jim Thompson
A kerosene oil lantern hangs
From a rusty twisted nail
But the yellow glow it cast
Doesn’t do much to unveil
The darkness of the room
Where an old cowboy just sits
Alone in utter silence
Just a clinging to his wits
He hears a cow a-bawlin’
And peers through the window pane
Must be one of mamma’s Herefords
Crying for a little grain
The snow sure is coming down
And it’s getting awful cold
He felt this storm a coming though
Guess that’s part of gettin’ old
He throws a log on the fire
And watches it slowly burn
He thinks about last year
And his heart begins to yearn
She really did love Christmas
And always went overboard
She baked and decorated
Enough to win an award
Her family was her prize
And it filled her heart with glee
To see them all gather ‘round
Underneath the Christmas tree
Who knew it would be her last
Lord he sure did miss her now
This March would mark fifty years
Since the day they said their vow
He hears that cow bawl again
And reaches for his jacket
Better go outside and check
The reason for the racket
The kids are coming tomorrow
If the roads are not that bad
They offered to bring dinner
Which had made him kind of glad
He hadn’t even put up a tree
Somehow it didn’t feel right
But even if he wanted to
Where would he find one tonight
He thinks about them grandkids
Naw it just won’t be the same
He wonders will they understand
Or just look around with shame
What do they expect from him?
He’s doing the best he can
It’s too late to start all over
For he’s far from a young man
Where are them two Herefords?
They are usually by the shed
Did they miss mamma too
Yeah they used to be hand fed
He comes across their tracks
Almost filled in now by snow
And he follows them up the hill
Just wondering where they go
Then all of a sudden he sees ‘em
And he can’t believe his eyes
For they’d gathered ‘round a pine tree
Of perfect shape and perfect size
They look at him and blink
Then beller as if to say
It’s not too late cowboy
For tomorrow is Christmas day
In that moment, in that instance
Things suddenly become clear
He understands what he must do
As he wipes away a tear
He knows there’s not much time
And it may take him all night
But he don’t mind for he knows
That his purpose now is right
She always made it special
And by God! He’d do the same
Yeah Christmas would live on
In memory of her name
Copyright © 2010 Cade Schalla
By
Cade Schalla
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The Good Stuff
