| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | “’Light, Stranger, ’Light” | | By N. Howard Thorp |
| | From “Cowboy Songs”
FOR this is the law of the western range | |
| When a stranger hails in sight— | |
| “Just tie up your hoss in the old corral, | |
| En ’light, stranger, ’light!” | |
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| ’Tis a land of hospitable people, | 5 |
| You’re welcome in daytime or night; | |
| Always one more chair at the table, | |
| So it’s “’Light, stranger, ’light!” | |
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| We don’t ask no inquisitive questions, | |
| If your people are native or white. | 10 |
| At our ranch you will find you are welcome, | |
| So it’s “’Light, stranger, ’light!” | |
| |
| You may be an outlaw, or preacher, | |
| Got into some place kinda tight— | |
| Someday you’ll return the favor, | 15 |
| So it’s “’Light, stranger, ’light!” | |
| |
| We are just plain cow-folks in Texas, | |
| But you’ll find we are all about right, | |
| You may stay for a year and be welcome, | |
| So it’s “’Light, stranger, ’light!” | 20 | | | |
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