Magdalena

Magdalena

Man long
Without a woman
Sees them everywhere

Hard men wandered
Pecked the earth
Water holes
Streambeds
Mountain faces
For gold and silver
Lead and copper

Fought among themselves
Conquistador
Fought Tigua
Acoma and Zuni
Yankee fought rebel
Fought Mexican
Fought Apache
Fought Navajo
Fought renegade
Fought partner
Fought an unforgiving
Land

They found her here
Thirsty minds
Quenched
In a woman face
A cameo
Soft
On mountain face

Serene
A face of peace

Magdalena

From Poems of the New Old West
Copyright 2002 Jack Purcell