The Encounter

A Hunter's Moon.

“Shoar is cold tonight my friend,
an that hunter moon is crystal clear
Winter’s comin early this year I fear,
so I best be gitten home”.

“There’s a fire there and some homemade rye
an I think ma woman made up some pie
and in truth ma friend, you doan wanna die,
so put that gun away”.

“You doan talk much an that’s alright,
me I’m more of a lover, I doan like to fight,
an I ain’t prepared to shed any blood tonight,
so best do what I says”.

“That ole moon’s about as full as a moon can be
and now that damn ole curse is commin over me
an it jus ain’t wise for you to stay;
son I hopes you does agree …”

“You see that cross high up there on that hill?
Well now my boy rests there all stiff an still,
an t’was me who put him there … after I had ma fill,
see, that ole moon makes me crazy”.

“Boy, I hopes there’s silver in that there gun
cause youse is gonna end up just like ma son
an you won’ts have a chance if ya trys to run,

so turn around and leave before things go foul …”

“See, I feels bad ‘bout what I did last month, my friend.
an 'twas ma woman who cursed me to this bad end
but tonight you looks just like my poor son, Will,
hard-eyed, with that same hard-assed scowl.”

“So if you leaves right now I’ll lets ya go,
but ya gotta be quick, I feels the feelin grow
An if you wait too long … (then his words began to growl)
you’ll end up like Will … dead from the disemboweling”.

The gun dropped into its holster and the kid turned away
and he never looked back, as his boots kicked up clay,
and he still gets the shivers, even to this day,
when the wolves begin their howling.

Reviews

[JD Hyde]

Oh my yes.
The weird west genre is rarely used.
Well done.

[felioness]

thanks for the read!

[Fran Marie]

Congrats on your winning poem..this is. A fantastic write..i very much enjoyed reading this fine piece of work.love the rhythm and rhyme and language used in this ballad tale..good stuff..

[felioness]

Thank you so much!