It was coming on late afternoon when he rode up to the cabin
It stood with gaping windows and no door to stop the wind
“Abandoned for how many years?”, he wondered to himself
Standing in this lovely Aspen glen
He unsaddled horse and unpacked mules, fetched water from the creek
He quickly built a campfire using brush and old fence rails
He fed the critters carefully and then he checked them well
From nose to long and tangled, twitching tails
A pot of coffee boiled soon as he rested aching bones
From a distant lake he heard the cry of a solitary Loon
Just then he noticed up the hill off to the east a bit
Two crosses where tonight would rise the moon
He walked the little distance in the fading golden light
Then stood before the graves and wondered if he should
He lit his lantern in the gloom and held it closer still
Two names were carved with care in weathered wood
The first cross bore the name of “Caleb” and “Anna” graced the second
But no last names or dates were found. He thought that somewhat strange
He wondered what had happened here those many years ago
At this lovely site so far above the range
Perhaps the two were siblings laid to rest with many tears
The victims of an illness which was deadly, swift, and strong
Or death at birth as happened in those rugged times back then
When lives were full but often not for long
Perhaps a loving couple who were found by passers by
And buried here with dignity by strangers with good hearts
Only first names known…perhaps inscribed in wedding rings
They rest now ‘neath these towering ramparts
He sat in quiet thought as darkness cloaked the mountain range
He sat with Anna and with Caleb through the mountain night
He somehow didn’t need the warmth his campfire could provide
And he stayed there till the blush of morning’s light
At dawn he rose not cold at all, somehow warm and rested
He broke camp and rode on but he glanced back once and smiled
Although he wasn’t quite sure what had happen on that night
The land he rode through somehow seemed less wild
And as the years piled up he often thought about the time
He’d spent the night with two he did not know and had not met
And somehow felt their spirits stayed with him for all this time
And I have no doubt that they are with him yet
Two Crosses
Artwork by Doc Arroyo aka Mark Royer
©2011
