Western Poetry posted April 17, 2019


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A talltale about the Old West

Pikesville

by Brett Matthew West

They met in the shadows of a dark night
Four strangers on horses, ready to fight
One had a scar from a battle he'd won
Swift as lightnin' he was with a fine gun
The second one, he came out of the south
Fiery words of anger spewed from his mouth
The third feared no man, was strong as an ox
Cunnin', connivin', and sly as a fox
Number Four was quiet, took it all in
The leader, on his word the war'd begin

The town before them it once was their home
The four winds they'd ridden, each on their own
In a cloud of dust, horses' hooves of steel
Cold-blooded killers they'd murder and steal
No lawman could take them though many tried
They littered the desert where they had died
Wanted posters hung all over the West
Five hundred dollars to stop the unrest
Back they had traveled to even the score
Settle a debt then they'd ride off once more

The sheriff of this town had gone astray
He would not live to see another day
Off of the hill the four of them did ride
Windows shuttered, the townspeople would hide
None of them brave enough to face the four
Take what you want then be gone evermore
Young Billy was diff'rent, he did not run
He stood in the street wearin' his six-gun
Buzzards circled high in the mornin' sky
They knew that someone was goin' to die

Bullets flew, the sheriff shot in the chest
The legend lives on, 'bout to be confessed
Some say that Billy just called their last bluff
Others will tell you he had had enough
When the dust fin'ly settled o'er the town
Four bodies of outlaws laid on the ground
Soon it was over, the folks gathered 'bout
Billy was their hero with a loud shout
Law and order came that day to Pikesville
Billy's quick draw made sure they always will




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