Below are the poems recited by Debra Coppinger Hill at the military ceremony
Held at Fort Sam Houston Sept. 25.
WARRIOR'S LAMENT

It's hell to be a warrior
in a land that's growing tame,
The good times have all passed and gone
and nothing is the same.

My old friends are buried somewhere
no tombstones with their names,
I guess I'll just die of old age
in a land that's growing tame.

A young man fights for glory,
then he fights for gold;
When he wears the hat of wisdom
he holds on to his own soul.

His arms grow weak, his spirit strong;
it is a terrible shame,
To wind up an old warrior
in a land that has grown tame.

You sleep at night with memories
of things that might have been;
Of places that enthralled your heart,
and the love of pretty women.

Now you wake and the night is there,
nobody but you to hold it;
No arms to help you pull it in,
no one to help enfold it.

If someday you find me here,
asleep upon a sandhill;
You'll know I found the truth,
the only way the brave will.

I would not trade my trail of dreams,
let all forget my name;
Remember me as a warrior,
in a land that grew too tame.

TR Stephenson
Somewhere West of San Antone
In Memory of and to Honor...
        Texas Outlaw Poet

             
All Graphics by D.Enise ~ Copyright 2000 ~ 2002
All Contents & Design Copyright 2000 ~ 2002 Cowboys-n-Cowgirls.com
Or by Author, Artist, and or Agents
This Page, is Dedicated to the Memory of
TR Stephenson
GONE TO THE MOUNTAINS

Sometimes the mountains call so strongly
that I shall never know peace
Until I stand where Heaven begins
and the bonds of this life cease.

I do not wish to leave you;
I've not but words to leave behind.
I pray, when you read, you'll remember me,
as strong and loyal an kind.

I rode the trail for which I was called,
in my mind regrets have no place;
The adventure was there for the living,
my heart says I ran a good race.

So listen for me in the laughter
that comes easy among true friends;
In the sounds of men and horses
beneath a sky that has no end.

And know that I loved you one and all,
when you hear music or smell sage in the air,
Dance hard and live for the moment,
my spirit will always be there.

Celebrate life and love and the West;
be fearless and funny and bold;
Please take the time to finish
any stories that I've left untold.

Past the meadow where blue bonnets grow,
near the creek by the gate;
My horse stands rigged for an easy ride,
and I can no longer wait.

So tell them I've gone to the mountains,
to the land I loved and called my home;
That I ride with the wild Texas wind,
somewhere west of San Antone.

Debra Coppinger Hill
With love for TR, who gave me words and love and taught me how to be an outlaw.
CnC Was Notified of TR Sephensons passing
by Debra Coppinger Hill
TR and Debra were more than freinds, they were and will remain kindered Spirits.
Most of this page are by Debra's Pen
I changed very littel, In fact from listening to Debra when she recites her works
always transports me to a far away time, a far awar place.
And while writing this page, along with the words (Below) that Debra had sent to
CnC  through email
it was her voice I heard in my head as I began typing.
Normally I would not touch a word, penned by her hand.


You can read more of TR Stephensons  work and a tribute on Omar West's Bar-D.
Academy of Western Artists and Cowboys-n-cowgirls.com are planning tributes as
well. We have received many calls as to where to send donations instead of flowers.
TR was wealthy in friends and words, but not worldly riches. His funeral is yet to
be fully paid for. We will post information on where Flowers or Donations can be
sent as we recieve it.  Poems of tribute can be sent to Debra Coppinger Hill
4dhranch@quik.com .  Additional link connections, photographs and poetry,
coming soon.

If for some reason you can not reach Debra You may submit emails to CnC
And we will be sure she gets them
Please put in the subject line
"TR"
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               TR Stephenson
Our Hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to and are with all those
That knew & loved the "Man"..
~Jen