Been tendin’ bar
In this old town
Since 1863
Since all the dust
From trails of rust
I found a place to be
From rush of gold
To gush of oil
And ghosts laid in between
Despite the dirt
N’all the hurt
N’all the pain I seen
Behind three feet
Of sturdy wood
I plied my trusted trade
I did replace
A welcome face
For all who end in fade
How many times
I polish brass
Mahogany is worn
Still comb my hair
What’s left up there
Pour whiskey over scorn
Old grizzly Bob
And ragger Jim
Stud under the table
Mangey Mcgee’s
Dog and his fleas
Go howl a bowl at Mabel
Up creeky dick
With pick and pan
Still diggin’ for the dream
Young Sherrif Bill
Will never fill
The man he’d could’ve been
Party happens
All day and night
A sight for all to see
What once was gay
Seems far away
What must you think of me
Empty happens
All night’s they end
Don’t speak of the unseen
Drink in your hole
Shoot up your soul
To wipe the bar slate clean
Then slinger Joe
Came in one day
The bar became a tomb
His eyes quite still
Always a thrill
As he stared out the room
He took his place
In front of me
I poured his usual brew
He looked around
Then to the ground
And somehow I just knew
He looked into
His soothing source
Musing eternity
He took a sip
And bit his lip
And then spoke finally
Furst man uh killed
Steel jest ah boy
Dun ten b’faw feftine
Bah twennywun
Mah life wiz dun
Ditn’t mean te be mean
Ye thank ye know
Bout who ye are
B’t that jest ain’t the case
If wun man’s true
Seh’s he knows you
Well till it teh mah face
Each man ah killed
Wanted me dead
N’ah woulda dun the same.
Ah cayn’t member
Now wat ah felt
Mah heart, it felt no shame
Y’ make a name
N’ in return
Y’ Reputations y’ers
It’s laid on you
By those that who
C’n drive a man t’ wars
He drained his glass
One last neck throe
Rocked back on his bar stool
Unsteady slow
I looked below
And saw the growing pool
I felt his frown
He pointed down
And opened up his shirt
The final score
The knife he wore
This was the end of hurt
He reached across
And kissed me hard
And opened up his eyes
Hh held me tight
I didn’t fight
This was the end of lies
I gasped, he smiled
Always his way
To end the wandering
I laid my head
And we were dead
We didn’t feel a thing
March 2017