Tucumcari
As I ride across the high plains desert
large gaps of open, arid scenery whisk by
burning sun is heating up old rippled windows
jostling riders jiggle and jump, jerk and sway
to the click, clack, click clack of wooden tracks
towards Tucumcari, New Mexico; Gateway To The West.
Sounds of the Old Wild West stir up the imagination
stories linger, like the great train robbery of Black Jack Ketchum
that occurred in 1897 near Tucumcari
where he and his bandits secretly hid the stash of gold
long before the train whistle blew near the station.
Clickity, clack, clickity, clack, or could that be horses’ hooves
galloping alongside the old steam engine tracks?
As desert dust kicks up, I envision ghosts of riders
wild west cowboys catching up, with guns out of holsters
shouting, “Stop the train! Get the gold!”
“Next stop, Tucumcari!”, calls out the conductor
I am shaken out of my daydream and look around
I view humble buildings huddling within the arroyos
these people are proud of their Southern Pacific heritage
for here in the desert you’ll not find a heartier folk
than those within this land of grit and sizzling sun.
Copyright © Laura Leiser | Year Posted 2021
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