Spirit Riders

The dawn is mauve, then pink
We mount our horses
The sky is turning orange-red
The sun is nearly up

A cold desert night
we see our breath
our horses snort
hot spurts of steam
fiery like dragons breath

We ride into the day
now it’s hot...brutal
We see mirages, cool shade
our horses are lathered and thirsty
as we dream of cool, cool water

We finally come to our water hole
Cottonwoods provide the shade
We’ve been here before
knowing the mirage is now real

We allow our horses to drink slowly
then we wipe them down
They graze in the shade
We drink and fill our water skins
lying in the shade we try and cool off
We hope for a breeze

We ride into the mirage

The twilight awaits us
bringing on the cool desert night
The sky is turning from the white day
into a blue then mauve trip
The sun sets in the west
against the majestic mountains

We are nearly home

We approach an encampment
wondering if we’re seen
We seem translucent
the horses coats shimmer
giving us away

We are warriors, brave and true
our hunt was fruitful
our tribe will flourish on the bounty
if we make it home

Sparks fly from their campfires
The midnight is upon us
We grasp our lances
We hope to go around
if not for our loved ones
We would steal their horses
and count coup

But fickle is the night
and when the day dawns
our spirits soar
and we had walked in dreams
now we ride
Warriors in the light

Spirit Riders

©Dale Clark