In Praise of Bees

Some seasons it’s cattle I push
Others I might do prospectin’
Mostly I lead folk's wagon trains
Good folks with their dreams connectin’

This was my third time out
Leading folks on the Santa Fe
It was a small train of only eight families
And we hadn't found water for many a day

 

All the previous tanks on this trail
That I'd promised them to find
Had turned out to be dust dry
Recent days had been a parched grind

 

The travelers were weary and edgy
Nerves were frayed and raw
Folks were short fused and fightin’
My own duty was beginnin' to gnaw

 

In fact two wagons with young-uns
Were talkin' of turnin' back
They just weren't thinkin' straight
It was a big mistake to backtrack

 

Their dreams were all ahead of them
A better future down the trail
They'd trusted me to get 'em there
I hard prayed, “God don’t let me fail”

 

I'd been scouting out ahead
For days as we'd near known water
But the tinajas had been dust
And each hour was getting hotter

 

Our water casks were all bone dry
Not even a drop to wipe lips
I was desperate, in despair
This was the worst of all my trips

 

A bee buzzed by my face and arm
Travelin' fast an’ headin’ north
It's direction was off the trail
But bees're known t'bring water forth

 

I spurred my horse into a trot
Followin' that buzzin' critter
It was hard to keep it in sight
But I would, I ain't no quitter

 

Up ahead was a rock cluster
Around which I beheld some green
When that water came into view