Sundance Mountain by Mary Byron Reese

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 3, 1898

Sundance Mountain.

By Mary Byron Reese

BY MARY BYRON REESE.

Rare monarch of the mighty plain, Like upturned palm outstretched to God, Where painted warriors to the sun In weird, wild dance their homage trod, From wigwams clustering at thy base, Blue, misty wreaths soared far above, Where youthful braves and dark-eyed maids Crooned back and forth their lays of love.

Upon thy crest brave Custer swept, With anxious gaze and eagle sight, The dark-browed hills and beetling crags, Where danger lurked ’mid vale and height; Where swarthy foes in ambush hid, With stealthy tread and bated breath, Weaving the web that soon must snare Brave heroes in the thrall of death.

Vanished the red men from the mount, Their warriors crowd no more its base, The warwhoop wakes no answering ring, For songs of peace usurp its place, And pale-faced children shout and play Where savage hordes triumphant trod, While church spires point and praises rise ’Bove mount and sun to nature’s God.