Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | I. Admiration | | On the Road to Chorrera | | Arlo Bates (1850–1918) |
| | | THREE horsemen galloped the dusty way | |
| While sun and moon were both in the sky; | |
| An old crone crouched in the cactus’ shade, | |
| And craved an alms as they rode by. | |
| A friendless hag she seemed to be, | 5 |
| But the queen of a bandit crew was she. | |
| |
| One horseman tossed her a scanty dole, | |
| A scoffing couplet the second trolled; | |
| But the third, from his blue eyes frank and free, | |
| No glance vouchsafed the beldam old; | 10 |
| As toward the sunset and the sea, | |
| No evil fearing, rode the three. | |
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| A curse she gave for the pittance small, | |
| A gibe for the couplet’s ribald word; | |
| But that which once had been her heart | 15 |
| At sight of the silent horseman stirred: | |
| And safe through the ambushed band they speed | |
| For the sake of the rider who would not heed! | | | | |
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