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FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Date of Items: 1890-present
Register Prepared by: Randy Williams and Susan Gross, April 2004
Register Updated by: Randy Williams, 23 December 2009
Excel database transfered to MYSQL and uploaded (replacing PHP data): Colin Jackson, Fall 2010
MYSQL database updated: Randy Williams, January 2012
Linear Feet:20

Historical Note & Provenance

Folk Coll 11 is Utah State University's cowboy poetry collection. The collection, originally created by a generation donation by the L. J. and Mary Skaggs Foundation, includes books gathered during a fieldwork project in the early 1980s to document cowboy poetry in the U.S. west (see Folk Coll 11f). From this important fieldwork project came the impetus for the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering held in January 1985 in Elko, Nevada. Since that time, each January, the Fife Folklore Archives staff take the collection and Access database (that details each book, poem, author, first line and key words), to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering for offsite use. Through University purchases and generation donations from poets and collectors, this collection continues to grow.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 20 linear feet of books on cowboy poetry, including press and self published works. The collection can be accessed through USU Libraries online catalog.


As well, poem titles and keywords found in each book in the collection are included in the database below. To use, type in the search term. Tip: Try and use an uncommon word from the poem to ensure less "hits." For instance, if you enter "boots" you will get many hits; but if you enter "bones" you will most liley get fewer "hits" or poems and find the item you seek faster. To return to the search page, click "home" at the bottom of the page.

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Poetry table.

First Previous Next Last
IDBook TitleComposerIndexPagesAuthorPoem TitleFirst LinesKeywords
22577 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 45 Lucy S. Burnham The Hills Near Bethlehem Where sheep had trodden unknown trails, Splintered silence like misty veils Shadowed the plains all wet with dew Where lay the restless, bleating ewe.
22578 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 46 Lucy S. Burnham The Two Mothers Dear Mary, the Mother of Jesus, I'm thinking of you tonight, As I kneel at the foot of the Christmas Tree, With its star so billiantly bright.
22579 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 47 Lucy S. Burnham The Chill of Winter The winter chill was in my heart, And stark and bleak against the sky The tall trees stood in silhouette, As desolate, alone as I.
22580 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 48 Lucy S. Burnham After Christmas O, where is the hustle and bustle, The patter of hurrying feet, The cheerful meeting and greeting Of friends on the busy street?
22581 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 48 Lucy S. Burnham The New Year I seek not in the vast unknown, Nor fear what needs must be. What has been gives me faith to know That God will care for me.
22582 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 49 Lucy S. Burnham Valentines Old man Winter goes hurrying by, Shaking the snowflakes down; He grumbles and groans the livelong day As he hurries about the town.
22583 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 50 Lucy S. Burnham The First Easter Dark clouds hung low above grim Calvary's Hill, Ominous clouds made day and night as one. A cry of pain, "Father, Thy will be done!" And Christ was dead, and silent, cold and still, A willing sacrifice, His Father's will.
22584 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 51 Lucy S. Burnham A Message of Spring Spring has come to our dear valley, After winter, bleak and cold, Earth renewed in all her gladness All her beauty to unfold.
22585 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 52 Lucy S. Burnham The Soul's Awakening Darling mother, spring is here, The birds are now returning With songs of happiness once more, For home their hearts were yearning.
22586 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 53 Lucy S. Burnham A Vagrant There's a hint of frost in the air today, And the smell of dry leaves burning. There's a lazy lilt in the hum of the bee That sets my heart a-yearning.
22587 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 54 Lucy S. Burnham October October days are bright and fair With flaming colors everywhere; Gay flowers in my garden small, A deep red bush against my wall.
22588 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 55 Lucy S. Burnham Wind Is But An Elfin Child O, the wind is but an elfin child Who is always playing pranks; She takes my spring hat from my head, Without one word of thanks.
22589 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 56 Lucy S. Burnham To A Fall Wind From whence has come the wind that blew today? A strange, sad wind with mournful roundelay, As if it blew a thousand years ago And learned so well this mournful chant of woe.
22590 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 57 Lucy S. Burnham For These We Thank The Lord We thank Thee, Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day, For substance given, our fields of golden grain, For luscious fruit, for pumpkins ripe again, Our peaceful homes, and friends who walk our way.
22591 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 58 Lucy S. Burnham The Empty Nest Come out, my dears, come out, come out, Flutter your wings and fly about. The world holds many a charm, my dear, Fly high, fly low, but always near.
22592 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 59 Lucy S. Burnham To The First Snow Fall lightly on her grave, O snow, Sweet as a rose and fair, With folded hands and quiet lips, Our darling sleeping there.
22593 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 60 Lucy S. Burnham Brooding Folks say that I am getting queer, Because I love the silence here, Dreaming of you the livelong day, So lonely now you are away.
22594 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 61 Lucy S. Burnham A Mother's Lament My house was a place of confusion, Playthings littered the floor, The sound of children's laughter Rang out from rafters to door.
22595 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 62 Lucy S. Burnham To An Oak Tree I stood beside a stalwart, dying oak, My aging hand upon decaying wood. It seemed as if the noble tree now spoke, And in my heart the kindly words were good.
22596 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 63 Lucy S. Burnham Mom, You're Slipping "Mom, you're slipping, you are growing old!" Careless words and my heart grew cold, An age old fear that spoiled my day, Starting me off on the lonely way.
22597 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 64 Lucy S. Burnham Afterglow Night follows closely sunset time In the sun-baked desert land. Soft shadows walk on padded feet, Like sentinels they stand.
22598 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 64 Lucy S. Burnham The Cycle Of Life Because you are so much a part Of a little boy who lived in my heart, As I cared for him so many years, Soothing his pain and childhood fears.
22599 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 65 Lucy S. Burnahm The Loom Of Life I stood before the loom of life where lay, So nearly finished now at close of day, A pattern woven there for many years, The woof and warp now faded by my tears.
22600 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 65 Lucy S. Burnham Rich Harvest From the wisdom of many years, I give you this gem of truth, Old age is but the reaping Of seeds we have sown in youth.
22601 Drift Wood FC 11 B-59 66 Lucy S. Burnham Renewing I walked all alone in my garden, A withered and pitiful sight, Last night 'twas a garden of beauty, Death walked in my garden last night.