V.  Rebellion

 ~

The Ninth day of August,

Sixteen-Eighty,

don Antonio de Otermín,

governor and captain

of His Majesty’s province,

New Mexico Land,

states he had  received

“Some noteworthy news

of general disturbance.”

 

The Pueblo Indians,

now Christian converted,

are “convoked, allied, and

confederated”

to revolt from this Kingdom

and destroy all at hand,

in four day hence,

here, where we stand.

 

The night of the Thirteenth,

the marked day,

the Pueblo, Apache,

spurred on by Popé,

will fall upon Spaniards

with intent to slay,

or expel if not kill,

to drive them away.

 

The word of rebellion

was outed by runners –

captured, confessed,

and confirmed all the rumors.

 

On deerskin tethers,

a knot for each day,

that remained for Spain

to live and to die.

 

Apprised their intentions

were given away,

Popé stepped up

the revolt to next day.

 

Otermín reconnoitered,

reconnaisanced, forewarned

too late, too little

before they were stormed.

 

The Tenth day of August

the storm was unleashed.

Otermín attempted

to sue for the peace.

The Pueblo, past reason,

the time now for treason –

the wrong God

must now be impeached!

 

Otermín ordered

his people to gather,

assemble together

for strength and their safety,

at least for those left

in the city, Santa Fé.

And Otermín sent

his agents for help,

not knowing he sealed

each agent’s ill health.

 

Throughout on the one day,

of August Thirteenth,

reports of the death

and atrocity cam in –

Bad News! to the men,

the prisoners of Popé.

 

The Fifteenth, the Pueblo

fell onto the town –

thus, then, began

five days of siege

on the grandchildren

from Oñate’s age.

 

The Twentieth grew grim

for the Spaniards within:

No water, no food; no aid.

 

Otermín held

no action, bale:

to die here of thirst,

or die in a thrust;

the latter, cannot

be the worst.

 

They charged forth and fought

twenty-five hundred aught

Pueblo, outnumbering them.

A rout there ensued

upon their besiegers,

which allowed Otermín

to gather, thereafter, his men.

 

The decision was made

for the very next day,

to abandon the colony, and go.

 

The defeat was complete!

The Pueblo had won.

Eighty-two years

and Oñate was gone.

 

They had achieved

what none other had done,

before, or would do thereafter:

a complete setback

for Europe’s expansion.

 

But, Oh!

what the price,

retribution?

~

 

©2013, Marvin Loyd Welborn

12July2013