Many years ago, Apaches sojourned the desert,
Now, a requiem for whom born near the Gila river,
A proud warrior whisk as a lizard,
Armed in stolen carbine, arrows, and quiver.
The tragedy behind the smile,
Who was named Goy-ah-kla(the man who yawns),
Where historians have named marauder and guile,
And, for whom the sad face the artist has drawn.
Mexican troops slaughtered your loving family,
While away trading in a Chihuahua town,
Butchered were his beautiful wife Alope, and children of three,
Now, newly named Geronimo would forever frown.
He was ambushed and caught
Only once, yet surrendered three,
San Carlos, where your freedom was bought,
But, escaped with the smallest army.
Across southern Arizona and New Mexico,
You ravished the unwinking night,
Stealing horses, whiskey, and gold
Before morning's light.
The final surrender to General Miles,
Who promised of a new land,
The swamps of Florida your exile,
To rusticate in the sand.
As I stare at the cactus and chuckwalla,
Where the white eagle ascends,
I will always think of you, O Great Goyahkla,
While the desert night descends.
- John Hardesty
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