Road Journals – Easter 2008

-Part II-

“There is a way that nature speaks,

That the land speaks;

All we need do, is listen.”

Linda Hogan

Every time we head down to New Mexico

I always look for an historic old place to view

Here, in this very ancient land of enchantment

I can always find something interesting and new

On this trip, I had decided to visit Dog Canyon

I was quite intrigued, just by its interesting name

And I soon learned that this fascinating old canyon

Had quite a bit of truly mesmerizing legend and fame

At least five battles were fought, right here in this canyon

Between the Cavalry and its ancient inhabitants, the Apache

It was one of old Geronimo’s favorite hideouts in New Mexico

Soldiers named it while chasing him, and finding only his doggy

It was also the secluded home to a master woodworker, named ‘Frenchy’

Who some say built the miraculous staircase, in Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe

Francois-Jean Roche’s bullet riddled corpse was found here, in his log cabin

But to this day, no one knows who murdered him - in 1894, on Christmas Day

Dog Canyon was also the home of another infamous New Mexican

Oliver M. Lee – part-time lawman, gunslinger, rancher, and politician

Its state park is named after him, even though he stood trial for murder

But he was acquitted, in the killing of Colonel Albert Jennings Fountain

As dusk was now settling into historic old Dog Canyon on our sojourn here

I asked my wife if we could stay a bit longer, to see all its fine bat residents

Nine most intriguing species of bats reside right here in this enchanting place

But alas, the sheer disdain on Mean Tall Woman’s scowling face was evident

“You can stay out here all night, if you like, Little Big Man!” she screamed,

“But I’m taking the truck back to town, I don’t want no nasty bat dreams!”

Well, gosh darn it anyway, extremely Mean Tall Woman

Next time, I’m bringing my dogs, to old Canon del Perro

We’ll camp out here in the mesmerizing canyon moonlight

Watching its fascinating night life and slurping Jose Cuervo

My four very faithful old dogs, ain’t afraid of no bats, no siree,

And sometimes, I just have to wonder, if my wife, is truly Apache

©2008, A Very Disappointed Little Big Man Mr. Ed,

Who ended up sleeping in a damned civilized hotel bed

And I bet that good old Geronimo had shape-shifted into that doggy;

I often really wish that I could somehow do that, too – oh, yes, siree