The Last Horizon

[couchgrouch]

The Last HorizonLieutenant Smith had tracked Restless Hawk'cross running creeks and regal mountain rockHawk laid down his lance in a hillside caveasking only that his wife and boy be kept safeSmith read Hawk telegrams from Washingtonhe'd live on a reservation with his wife and sonso with hist'ry bidding farewell to the SiouxHawk stood on that hill for one final viewof the last horizonfor men of untamed birththe last horizonfor men who loved the earthwhere valleys once trembled'neath the hooves of bisontill the arrow of fate flew long and straightto the heart of the last horizonthough the Army promised Hawk a peaceful lifethat vow was only kept for his son and wifesoon the order came to put Hawk in chainsSmith was forced to put him on board a prison trainas that steam horse rolled on with Smith standing guardlong rainy nights revealed the sky's broken heart Smith loosened Hawk's leg irons in the nightHawk slipped his chains, jumped that train and ran back to hidein the last horizonfor men of untamed birththe last horizonfor men who loved the earthwhere valleys once trembled'neath the hooves of bisontill the arrow of fate flew long and straightto the heart of the last horizonafter he let that renegade break freeLieutenant Smith was discharged from the cavalrywell, he could've pointed his star-nosed stallion westand started a ranch while open land was still leftinstead he headed back to those castle rocksand spent a few seasons with Restless Hawkmoonlight did many ghost dances on the plainsfor the rebels and warriors that remainedin the last horizonfor men of untamed birththe last horizonfor men who loved the earthwhere valleys once trembled'neath the hooves of bisontill the arrow of fate flew long and straightto the heart of the last horizon(c)2006 Robert George