Frank James, 1912 - pipTalk Forums

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

Open Poetry #30

Frank James, 1912

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).]

Brad Majors

Member Elite

since 2001-04-03

Posts 2647
Georgia

1 posted 2003-12-04 09:52 AM

well done

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
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
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

3 posted 2003-12-04 01:11 PM

awesome write!

Ratleader

Member Rara Avis

since 2003-01-23

Posts 7026
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

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

5 posted 2003-12-04 09:49 PM

Larry...you paint a vivid portrait!

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.