Texas Lullaby

Night air grew warm and stiflin’ And the lightnin’ flashed the sky— As night herders sang those notes Of the “Texas Lullaby.” The notes came low and trembled— Wailers did not yell or shoot— Their voices rose on high now To quiet cow and galoot. The lightnin’ then grew brighter Like an eerie prairie pyre— It balled and jumped each cow’s horns— The ghost of St. Elmo’s fire. Those two night guards now sang on, A soft song not made of words— Syllables and tones to soothe And calm down uneasy herds. The cattle moved in circles And then would have stampeded— When a cow bawled for its calf And that’s all that was needed. The rain came and lightnin’ ceased— Herders sang softly and high— The cows bedded slowly down To that “Texas Lullaby.” And on they kept a singin’— Not on words did they rely— Just tones and soft syllables Of that “Texas Lullaby.”