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Open Poetry #12
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He Finally Made It Home (sequel)
| Open Poetry #12 |
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He Finally Made It Home (sequel) |
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John Yaws Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 860Texas 
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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 proceeded 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, His 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 he's somehow seen- A light in ranch house window- After riding long, alone... Though to us hid, I believe he did- He finally made it home. © Copyright 2001 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved |
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| © Copyright 2001 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved | |||
Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
Ohhhh.... I missed part 1, now I'm going to have to go back and find it. Wonderful story. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Enjoyed reading your poem...James |
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inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
You have brought tears to my eyes today. Because I know this has happened too many. Thank you for allowing me to follow the journey. |
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Trillium
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098Idaho, USA |
I feel like I've lost a friend I admired! What a great story. I kept hopeing somehow he'd save his land, but I guess he has all that he could ever want now. Betty Lou Hebert |
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