Tales from the X-bar Horse Camp: The Blue-Roan Outlaw and Other Stories Page 2

  SUNRISE ON THE DESERT

  Towards the east, the God of day, Like some great red-eyed dragon, tops the rugged range. Before his golden beams, the gray Of dawn creeps slowly backward, till the magic change Sweeps night away.

  The desert stirs, and wakes. Strange-fashioned things come slipping into sight. High overhead a buzzard idly wings, A lonely raven robed in shades of night "Caws" hoarsely to its mates.

  Perched on a nearby stone, A lizard, swift as light, and clad in colors gay, Pumps slowly up and down. A horned toad, with crown of thorns, comes slithering by, And then is gone.

  Atop of yonder rocky hill A lone coyote, skulker of the desert wastes, Greets the first beams with shrill And piercing "yips," then hastes To find his morning kill.

  A wandering honeybee, Drunk with nectar from a Palo Verde's yellow bloom, Goes stagg'ring by. The air is heavy with the desert's sweet perfume From flower and tree.