Palo Duro Canyon Walls

The Palo Duro canyon walls
still echo with the sounds

of stalking braves and buffalo;
Comanche hunting grounds.

The Cheyenne and Arapaho,
the Kiowa and more,

well stocked with food to last till spring,
lived on the canyon floor.

Then in the moon of yellow leaves,
the blue coats tracked them down

with mercenary Tonkawa
they came without a sound.

Chief Kicking Bird and Lone Wolf led
brave warriors in the fray,

to hold the blue coat charge until
the women got away.

A valiant fight, a gallant stand,
then bloodied warriors fled

too late to gather horses so
they left on foot instead.

The Tule Valley to this day
yet echos with the sounds--

a thousand horses slaughtered on
Comanche holy grounds.