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The annual Christmas Gathering up at the Lazy Lee is an event that none of us miss. My friend, Julie, loves Christmas and started these gatherings when they came up here from Colorado a few years ago.
We all pitch in and do something to help with the gathering, we bring food, help decorate, buy some little knick-knack, cook, whatever. It’s a great time, and we all love Christmas a little more for it. Even those like me who don’t really like Christmas much at all.
This year, Julie wanted to make this gathering more like the ones that we have in summer, after the brandings. She wanted a bonfire, supper at the house, singing, music and a poetry recitation. Of course, I was the one chosen to recite.
Now, understand, cowboy poetry is an old tradition. It started a long time ago on the drives. It probably started as just storytelling, and then some creative soul decided to put it in rhyme. I’m sure glad that one hand decided to do that. After all, my stories sound a bunch better when they’ve got a little rhyme and meter behind them.
Julie asked me if I had ever written a poem about Christmas. Of course, I have, I’ve written many poems about Christmas. I showed her a few and recited one or two of those, but they weren’t what she had in mind. So, she asked if I could write one. I really tried hard to write something touching, poetic and yet, a little light. I didn’t come up with a darned thing.
Well, we hemmed and hawed and thought and bantered, but she couldn’t come up with anything, either. So we started looking at other people’s work, and finally we decided on something together. It’s a wonderful poem that fits not only with the season, but also with the state of the world as it is. It’s this poem that I’d like to share with you.
A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer
By S. Omar Barker
I ain’t much good at praying,
And You may not know me, Lord,
I ain’t much seen in churches,
Where they preach the “Holy Word”.
But You may have observed me,
Out here on the lonely plains,
Lookin’ after cattle,
Feelin’ thankful when it rains.
Admirin’ Thy great handiwork,
The miracle of grass,
Aware of Thy kind Spirit,
And the way it comes to pass.
That hired men on horseback,
And livestock that they tend,
Could look up at the stars at night,
And know they have a friend.
So here at home Christmas comin’ on,
Remindin’ us again,
Of Him who’s come and brought Good Will,
Into the hearts of men.
A cowboy ain’t no preacher, Lord,
But if You’ll hear my prayer,
I’ll ask as good as we have got,
For all men everywhere.
Don’t let no hearts be bitter, Lord,
Don’t let no child be cold,
Make easy beds for them that’s sick,
And them that’s weak and old.
Let kindness bless the trail we ride,
No matter what we’re after,
And sorta keep us on Your side,
In tears as well as laughter.
I’ve seen old cows a’starvin’
And it ain’t a happy sight,
So please don’t let no one be hungry, Lord,
On Thy good Christmas Night.
No man, no woman, no child,
No critter of four feet,
I’ll aim to do my best to help,
You find ‘em somethin’ to eat.
I’m just a sinful cowpoke, Lord,
Ain’t got no business prayin’,
I still hope You’ll catch,
A word or two of what I’m sayin’.
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord,
And I reckon you’ll agree,
There ain’t no Merry Christmas,
For nobody that ain’t free.
So one more thing I’ll ask You, Lord,
Just help with what You can,
To save some seeds of Freedom,
For the future Son’s of Man.
After we read this, we both thought that it would be perfect for the gathering this year. I’ll have to get more background on Mr. Barker. I’ve never heard his work before, but he’s an excellent poet, if this is any judge.
The way that we chose to have me recite this is that everyone will be out by the fire. I’m supposed to ride up through the back, out of the trees and begin reciting when I get within earshot. We’re planning not to have a dry eye on the place.
We practiced it tonight, and it came off really well. Even without the fire. I usually don’t look forward to Christmas much, but I think that the gather is going to be really special this year. We have a lot of neat stuff planned. Carols sprinkled with poetry, stories and, of course, food.
I think that the best part of this gathering will be that there will be people there who have never been to a gathering before, much less the Christmas Gathering. Many of the old ranchers will be there with their stories to tell, Julie’s son and her granddaughter are coming up for the first time, my daughter will be there and all the hands from the Lazy Lee.
Just for one day, we’ll all put away our differences and rejoice in the Spirit of all the Lord has given us. Even without all the plans and such that we’ve made, just having folks around that have never been to the gatherings, and all our friends and family will make this one night very special.
December 7, 2001
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