Rounded stone quashed Apache enemies for centuries. Steel morphed it
into ornament. Much like Christianity. At least to Geronimo, when he
met my grandfather in jail—a regular stop for pastor Elijah Barksdale
Fincher. With the gift of a symbol of war, Geronimo and his son pledged
peace to Jesus, Son of the great Spirit—a story Apache missionary Barksdale
told his children. The preacher, having been a bareback-riding blood-brother, convinced Geronimo, Jesus’ love outlasts imprisonment—and war.

But Barksdale, buck-naked
on your back porch, as Kate
plucked you clean of lice
did she scold you? After
days on the open range
branding new-born foals
with church member braves,
your long-suffering wife,
must have worried that
homesteaders might deem
you a rustler—injun lover.
Not spirit lover.