"A Warrior's Blood" by Bob Atkinson

"A Warrior's Blood" 
(Written of a real life experience in the Dragoon Mountains, May 8th, 2010)

(c)2010 Bob Atkinson

didn't end with Sea's demise

the struggle here of old and wise

he came and went as they had done

a little shy, a little pensive

wouldn't say names 
of those gone by

to those now breathing

wasn't shyness

just his breeding

tradition here was very clear

one calmly gives names respect

 deeds and actions of the past

were brought back
serenely lacking
names of those
who did the tasks

a warrior riding 
on sacred soil
remembers his band's glory
in oral narratives

as no paper stories

need be told

born of a warrior's blood

this man rode deftly from above

we could not clearly see a path

yet down he came

with reins held tightly
in his hands

missing only bow and arrows
women, children and other fellows
the warrior sat upon his steed
lucky it wasn't the 19th century

Sabino was mounted upon his Roan

rising tall, well saddled

sure of foothold

stories of the past in his mind

could have been

one of many

who challenged change

based from this canyon

basins here within the stone

where meat was carved

down to the bone

filled now not with blood

but leaves golden 
and grains of sand

fire cooking flesh at night

gives energy to challenge

the soldiers' might

grass for horses, mule and deer

here abundant most of the year

allowed hope to reappear

in children born while on the run

fires made to challenge

a setting sun

those who called this land their home

spoke names freely

of its canyons and boulders

they spoke not of dead Indian warriors

not by choice

but by years of instruction

their home, their band

gave them strength needed

to endure many hardships

while living fiercely and freely

Contact Bob Atkinson