The copper era and Morenci leader., 1920-05-07
THE LURE OF THE DESERT

(Poem which won the prize off red by the Arizona Federation of Women's clubs. It was written by Mrs. Anna c. Work of Morenci) An Extravaganza to him will this
 story seem
 Who never has dreamed the Desert
 dream;
 Truth stranger than fiction to him
 will it tell
 Who has dared the power of it's
 mystic spell
 Out toward the faroff, purple rim Where the heat-waves simmer
 and the trail grows dim Where the sand-devils dance in
 unholy glee As they beckon and writhe OCT
 that trackless sea Alone on the Desert-my burro
 and
 Are drifting along meath a cop
 perty sky.
 Once, twas the lure of yellow That held thru the tortures of heat
 and cold;
 Like siren, calling and turing With a maddening power when
 hope seemed gone, I deemed, no hardship too great
 for the gains
 To be mine for hoard of the
 shining grains. .s Skirting the grim, frowning can Where venomous creatures of the
 desert crawl E. % Over hot sands meath biistering shiv'rfas with cold when ths day
 was done
 osviss nS heed ~hsn. wster.holes Warned of the tortures of thirst
 Ne and bye. Ur with the first gleam. of ,morp>
 ing light, When the nighthowiing coyote
 slinks from sight W't9 ,,,' Pass ss,.s'y!, and saatssn on ny fat'e Piodding along where ths 'hunch"
 might lead CW eI5s Searching and ], picking now here
 now there, r@s[sse g..s ,l-- For the goid that should build mo
 my castles fair. .,3'' - '.ez f7'.'1 = \ Unheeded. the years that were
 passing by Undaunted and aS grim hope never
 would die. snc DIT d Dreaming my dreams of the time s to come Fotq93s1 bnR 8338b That should give. back to me the w9rla's busy hpmmF laIltF .ss ..1s Till at last from @its treasure.hous 'cehtuffes o1d,,os TOT 'hesFN ''e The Desert gave up its shining
 gold, Then back to the world I turned
 in haste 7siz2s x ss ,lssls Eager atone for the years made Eager to quar of the pieasurs-cup tyeath silken eoverlets woo downy Drink of the nectar Of orchard and Psrtake only of food nt forg gods FfN all was mine. ~W s 1T builded me wonderful mansions Treasures from over the world were there; Dnder my feet, silken rugs from zf'l far lands
 That should make me forget tho hot desert sands; Silver and crystai-iinen snow Eff white,
 Where once but . tin plate and
 cup were my right. 9eened the favors of Fortune mine r TT but to command Yet was something withheld, by her E lavish hand,
 For ever longing vague and dim When my cup of joy seemed nlled
 to the brim, ~ essss' Urged for some needI question
 ed why
 What hungered my soul for that
 gold could not buy?;igvv TsEyW Over the world to it's 2 furthermost Under the spell of cathedral Into great halls where treasures '' of art Should hold one enraptured- rex alted-apart, ..-..,,,,.. a,. I wandered about like a soul of
 unrest,
 Seeking unknowing my life
 without vest. s -s., Dreams of fair women" were mine
 to make true
 Visions of loveliness-brown eyes
 and blue
 From wonderful princess to sweet
 peasant maid The goddess of Love on my altar
 had laid:
 Mine but to choose whom ito have
 and to hold''-
 For round me, like incense, hung
 the lure of red gold. To adorn my great mansion, with
 its trappings all new