The Cowgirl by Sandra Haynes
by Karen Kuhlmann (dedicated to all the women who came west)
She came west in a wagon, her man by her side,
Children in the back, she was Destiny’s bride.
She came up the Missouri on a steamer belching black,
She set foot in Ft. Benton and she never looked back.
She came out on the railway, to Billings, the end of the line,
With a big black trunk from Pittsburgh, full of china and linens so fine!
She’s the Mother of Montana, she tamed the Big Sky
With a Bible and a needle and a twinkle in her eye!
She married the miner, they struggled together.
She married the logger, his hands worn like leather.
She married the stockman, the cowboy, the preacher,
While she nursed the sick and was forever the teacher.
She helped to build the cabin and the fence and the barn.
She made the soap and candles, and carded out the yarn.
She helped with the calving, the lambing and haying,
There was laughter and loving, weeping and praying.
She’s the Mother of Montana, she tamed the Big Sky,
With some seeds and teapot, and a tear in her eye.
She came to tame Montana, to make a spot her own,
She came to tame Montana, make her life and make a home!