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-48All They’ve Changed is the Guard at Fort Sill The Wichita Mountains rise out of the haze. I imagine the sounds of a drill. But all that I hear is a meadowlark’s song. The parade ground is ghostly and still. There’s lots of activity ’round the old fort— The modern, mechanical kind. But my mind has taken me back through the years, To a colorful, romantic time. The days when the horse corral, full of good stock, Was fit for the winter campaign, And the troopers rode out in columns of two For another assault on the plain. The rattle of sabers, the sergeant’s commands, The clank of the traces and chains, The creak of the leather, the clatter of hooves— Oh! the feel of the saddle and reins. Below the Red River clear down to the coast, Quanah Parker is at it again, Leaving a path of destruction and death, Killing women and children and men. The wires fairly buzz on the telegraph poles, Sending messages all through the fall. Sherman and Sheridan, Buell and Miles— All readily answer the call. Ranald McKenzie has chased the Comanches All summer, the campaign is tough. Late in September, he finds them encamped At the base of a high canyon bluff. -49Spotting the camp and descending the wall Of the Indians’ ancient stronghold. He cuts off the pony herd, kills every one; Leaves the people afoot in the cold. Beaten and hungry, they finally come in. Quanah surrenders his arms. He lives to see all of the great western plain Broken up into ranches and farms. The scourge of New Mexico finally is caught. While the infantry march on parade, The wily Geronimo, caged like a wolf, Walks a cell in the old post stockade. The silence is shattered, my journey is marred. By the sounds of the wakening crowd. I wonder what Sherman would think of the noise? Bet he’d think it was vulgar and loud. The settlement of the American West Was a clash of two cultures of men. It’s sad that it’s taken a hundred long years For old enemies to become friends. These men are still guarding American soil, And, God willing, these men always will. Their mission the same, keep America free. All they’ve changed is the guard at Fort Sill. 1990 ...

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