The Clifton clarion., 1886-05-12
RHYME OF THE APACHE.
AN EPIC ARIZoSIAN.
COMPILED FOR THE CLARION,


 Nor feathered arrow. nor twangins bow, Nor the war-iecked spear 1 sing; But Winchester new,-I'm modern yoo know And use the skill cf my brainy fos
 And the scientific thing. With an aim that's true, from my vantage view,
 As shadow some hidden spring, Or skulk in the rocks of canyon box And stealth,ly lie in wait
 For the passer-by, with a cunning eye, And hand that's sure as fate. From the rocks safe rim, then woe to him, If chance to see him first!
 Like thunder burst, when clouds are worst, The death-stroke home is sped; Then mangle the dead
 And have glutted thirst
 Blood-crazei in savaSo's head. My muse, in the haste of rny verses waste, I've left like port.onless daughter; make the amend, as betits an arch ienti, And bow to thee, scarlet-stained Slaughter With dripping scalp in either hand She sit, in the s,ey of Apacae-laad, --=74 = Groom ng rhyme of the yesterday tiuo When the White blood ran like water. My creed, with things in the Ian Of shades. Some visions hes of ghostly raids; My god is a saa,e or crooked stick, n adobe clod or broken brick, 4 cact-,5 tall CT anything strange My tlncy may change from its limited range: At least anything under the sin. My policy is . crooked one, And fer self-pres ervation, Through the hungry date, I hibernate Ip the bounds of the reservation. When the Night has made the Moon his bride, When the gamma clothes tho mountain side Ind the cactus flowers are blooming, By way of feeler, raid the Gila, And Apache stock goes booming. Across the sands of the San Simon, Midst Indian whoop and Gringo groan swe like the fierce tornadoes: Then over the line, with a glllop fine, To visit my prim1s p-imeros. Like vulture's swoop, make scoop OF some lonely mountain village, h the early gray Of aa April day, And I saoot and burn and pillase; Then hie ma off, and quick enough, To the wilds of the Sierra Maare, With woman and feed, aal all that greed, And ths scalp of some lusty padre. And there stay and enjoy my play Through the yellow days of the season of
 maize, And the nights of the sun nner moon, l,, tha ant, If faa< When lo the blue-coats come. But lead them astray, by a rocI-wild way, Till at length my ambush appears, When gather them in. and tether them in. And somshow shake up their fears; They sue for peace, and 1t gives them hearts
 ease, When grant their prayer, with lordly air, And offer them escorts bold To see them home, from their folly's roam, Near the reservation old. When we near the line where the customs
 fine Is sure to make rattle, With soldier guard We round up ny herd, Drive on my Aztec cattle. Home again. and brief survey UT my llle must neeuS oe tc~CnUS, Here goes for a dash of resume, The salad of my preaching. shoot, burn, I twist, 1 turn, I murder, rob and ravage; plan, feel. I faNn. I steal. For do us painted savage. Should you doubt my word. when my b.ood's
 upstirred, Go down where GIls's flowing. I harvested there; unforsot the scare Which went with my path of going. By the coppery gieam of the dried-up stream That flows through the gulch of Chase's, You'll find have strayed. ths result of my
 raid, In more than few faint traces. Bat here's toast, to my worthy host, To you, good Uncle Saani Right under your wing, do plot each thing And you take me for lamb Or never care . damn Then let me sing the time to come, When fully prepare Pm made; Won't I make things hum Ike tenor drum? Hurrah for the neEt-our raid!