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Open Poetry #42
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He Finally Made It Home (sequal to "Tomorrow I'll Be Home")
| Open Poetry #42 |
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He Finally Made It Home (sequal to "Tomorrow I'll Be Home") |
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Gunslinger Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 901TX, USA 
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The vagrant breeze does stir his hair- That's now grown thin and gray. Caressing lines which crease his face... As though to wipe away... The hardship, grief, and worry- Which carved each crevice deep... Why! He looks ten years younger- As if he were asleep. His mattress is the Texas clay- For which he slaved for years. His bedspread is the new spring grass Oft watered by his tears. And on his feet, his Justin boots- They used to be his pride... It's only fitting, I suppose- He wore them when he died. And in his hand? Case-hardened steel- He wore upon his hip... He kept it rolled up in a trunk- Until this final trip. Concession to his loving wife... Who'd preceeded him in death- "Please, promise, Jack"? she whispered- That was her final breath. Last night up on the mesa- As he stood beside the graves... Of all but one of those he loved, He lay beyond the waves... He'd looked back down the trail of years, As he had tamed the land. With brute hard work, he'd claimed the place And built a mighty brand. He'd faced Indians, and rustlers- And killers in the street... He'd never bowed, nor was he cowed Each challenge he did meet. Till the crooked politicians- Up in Austin, took a hand... And with ink pens, and with law books They finally took his land. He met them at the main gate... He said, "That's far enough- There's not a man with sand to stand- I've come to call your bluff". Five rifles at one hundred yards- Against one forty-four... The rifles spoke, the silence broke... Jack Ballard was no more. It almost seems an eerie hush Has fallen... sweet, serene- His lips look like they're smiling... As if some how he's seen- A light in ranch house window- After riding long, alone... Though to us hid, I believe he did- He finally made it home. |
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| © Copyright 2008 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Seoulair Senior Member
since 2008-03-27
Posts 807Seoul S.Korea |
Wonderful story, sir. Very good and I enjoyed very much the read. I think that you are a very good story teller..and with poem. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
You are a great storyteller. Is this story based on someone you knew? Ida |
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Gunslinger Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 901TX, USA |
Thank you for your kind commentary, and 'No, not an individual who I knew, but a type.' |
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BugBuggy Member
since 2005-12-19
Posts 130michigan |
this was great I don't come visit the site often enough it seems I love anything with an old west theme thanks for the great read.. BugBuggy |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
absolutely wonderful  |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
A pleasure to read...one of your best...James |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Gunslinger you have done it again, that is one really great poem, even better than the other one. Keep up the great writing my friend, it is so much enjoyed. Lindsay |
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