THE SPIRIT OF THE HILLS
There's a yarn in every coulee
there's a song in every rill;
The legends of the pioneers;
The Spirit of the Hills.
First came the Evil Spirits,
up the trail from Benton's span;
"Rot-gut" from the whiskey traders
out to spoil the bold Peigan.
Then the Redcoats out of Dufferin
on the Trail of Seventy-Four;
Smashed Fort Whoop-Up, hanged the outlaws,
blazed new trails, and brought the Law.
Then came Longhorns from Montana,
come to graze the buffalo's home;
With them cowboys, merchants, nesters
here to bust the sandy loam.
Then those policeman, cowboys, farmers
put down roots; cried "Here to stay!"
And their children and grandchildren
like as not are here today.
There's a yarn in every coulee,
There's a song in the rill;
The leavings of the pioneers,
The Spirit of the Hills.
Sherm Ewing - 2010
Sherm was a long-time rancher in the hills and wonderful friend.
We hosted a music, art and poetry gathering and he wrote this poem in commemoration of "Spirit of the Hills".