The Game

Hot sun was burning

Deep into center of town

Like a dust devil

Sucking last life from all round

 

Hot wind whipped saloon doors

Tumbleweeds blew down the one street

Rolling down the ageing boardwalk

Under hitch rails, lodging neath pony’s feet

 

A barmaid in a revealing, bright gown

Was slapped hard by a gunfighter  

And within a blink of an eye

Was challenged by her cowboy lover

 

“That’s my lady!”

The gunfighter slowly pushed back his chair

His spurs scratched the rough plank flooring

As he offered a mean, slit-eyed stare

 

Evil flowed from his eyes

Bringing Hell to that place

He challenged, that in the center of town

They would come face to face

 

The two stepped out onto the street

But only one man knew the gun

Beneath crushing dry heat

The other would be done

 

Death would make its round

When the clock on the tower

Had its both arms raised straight up

Striking mid-day’s hour

 

But just before that clock struck    

The young barmaid took careful aim

And with her scattergun

She ended that killing game

 

Beneath the searing sun

By just the slightest heartbeat

Two lovers now had to run

With a gunslinger left in the street

 

Heading across barren waste

And never once looking back

They fled across desert sands

Following an unused stagecoach track

 

The posse returned late at night

From that sundrenched dreary land

Saying both lovers had just vanished

Beyond an arroyo, into burnt desert sand

 

 

Reviews

[Mauricio Montoya]

I like this write it brought back memories in the day I hop trains see old towns and each had it history of story never told, you brought that alive, good write thank you for sharing.

[Dave Brown]

hopping trains seems like a good way to see the countryside
glad you enjoyed
have a great day