Quest For Gold
By Carolyn Devonshire
painted desert lay before them
hills with rings of gold and amber clay
few plants, scarce water
just a coyote or roadrunner
on horseback they rode
dreaming of hidden gold
saddlebags filled with mining tools
but not one nugget of treasure
badlands had not been kind to them
but determination still burned
another excavation, another disappointment
“fool’s gold” took on new meaning
blistering day came to a close
time to set up camp
but the striated hills had eyes
Dakota Tribe waited for dusk
arrows flew fiercely
bullets pierced the warm night air
war chants accompanied thundering hooves
intruders not welcome in their land
two weary cowboys
lay dead by morning
adventurous spirits slain
now just statistics in the quest for gold
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