Classic Poem

Near the Llano Estacado
Famed for deeds of wild bravado,

Winsome Maraquita Fancher,
Orphan child of Bill the rancher,

Led her flock of frisky muttons,
Fed the pretty woolly gluttons —

Lamb and wether, ewe and chilver,
Clothed in fleeces bright as silver.

There she rambled, much respected,
Free as air and well protected

By her ram, a big Merino,
Widely known as " Filippino. "

Wise he was; the world had schooled him;
Human nature never fooled him.

Maraquita, most acutely,
Took his judgments ab-so-lutely.

Cesar Gil, a swart vaquero,
Quite the gallant caballero

(Though his legs were slightly bandy),
Rode across the Rio Grande,

Came a-courting Maraquita,
Praising her as " muy bonita! "

Humbly bowing, sweetly sighing
False, false vows of love undying.

Filippino left his grazing,
Turned and viewed the scene amazing;

Charged! and, headlong hurtling, fairly
Met the Issue full and squarely.

Cesar Gil, the dusky dandy,
Soared across the Rio Grande,

Rolling resonant " carr-rrambas! "
Still pursued by mocking lamb-baas.

So it chanced with other wooers
(False deceivers, base pursuers) —

Claude Dulane the turquoise-digger,
Faro Pete the thimble-rigger,

Denbigh Booth the tragic mummer,
Curtis Sharpe the hardware drummer,

Ellis Farnham Walsh of Reno,
Came — and fled from Filippino.

Now appeared a Handsome Stranger,
Rollo Jones, the Texas Ranger,

Bringing lots of love — a heartful!
Brave and true, but gently artful.

First he talked to Filippino,
Talked of poker, whist, and keno,

Cattle, crime, and politicians,
Calming down the Ram's suspicions.

Next, as though to serenade him,
Lively, tuneful airs he played him, —

Ragtime lilt and light fandango; —
Showed him how they dance the tango.

Then he brought, with perfect breeding,
Little gifts of dainty feeding

(Since the grass was growing sparsely) —
Carrots, turnips, beets, and parsley.

Thus the Ranger, true and clever,
Made that Ram his friend for ever.

Well, the rest was bound to follow:
Filippino, leading Rollo,

Trotted up to Maraquita.
Jones now calls her " mi lindita . "

Or he did , as I remember,
When I saw them, last November,

Eating prime Thanksgiving turkey
At their home in Albuquerque.