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Open Poetry #30
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dingusjr
Member
since 2003-09-24
Posts 415
Missouri

0 posted 2003-12-04 06:41 AM



He strides across the yard
pointing out the house,
selling pebbles from his brother's grave.
for twenty five cents a pop.

He was at Wilson's Creek,
but found the fighting slow.
Rode with Quantrill and Cole
to Lawrence and back again.

Liberty, Lexington, Richmond,
Missouri towns with banks.
Then  thundering on horseback
catching trains the hard way...
taking watches and  rings
from the passengers.

"We was drove to it",  he says.
Drove to kill the teller in Gallatin
because he looked like someone else.
Drove to kill again in Northfield
in a rage over the gang's drunken failure.

Finally tried to quit and did
after Jesse died.
Surrendered his guns
to the Governor himself.

He started races in St. Louis,
sold shoes,
took tickets at a burlesque show,
tried to forget his training
with a gun and a feed sack.

Now he gives tours at the farm.
And heads down to the creek
for another pail of pebbles.




[This message has been edited by dingusjr (12-04-2003 01:16 PM).]

© Copyright 2003 Larry W. Allen - All Rights Reserved
Brad Majors
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since 2001-04-03
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Georgia
1 posted 2003-12-04 09:52 AM


well done
suthern
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
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Louisiana
2 posted 2003-12-04 01:08 PM


Your words are so vivid I can see the stoop in his shoulders as another pail of pebbles is hefted... I like this! *S*
passing shadows
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since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
3 posted 2003-12-04 01:11 PM


awesome write!
Ratleader
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Member Rara Avis
since 2003-01-23
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Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass
4 posted 2003-12-04 08:32 PM


I can see him, feel him!

And I love that ending. So paltry, what it becomes after being so bold and larger-than-life....

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

Martie
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since 1999-09-21
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California
5 posted 2003-12-04 09:49 PM


Larry...you paint a vivid portrait!
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