Beyond the Mighty Humboldt

Beyond the mighty Humboldt Where the Artemisia blooms, The broken ribs of mountains Lie tilted toward the sky. ‘Twas called a wretched wasteland That Satan, himself, passed by; Where no self-respecting bird Would stay if it could fly. Its rivers are pretenses, Called navigable by law. Thirsty dragonflies may wing Thirty miles to find a spring. Nature gave it acne skin, Best summed by this report: “A most paltry stretch of earth; Ugliness of no import.” Miners dug just short of Hell In search of bonanza lodes; And found the gold and silver To fund Mister Lincoln’s war. Battle born, the Silver State Lent much to the Union cause. The Union will pay its debt, With Yucca Mount’s toxic load.