Search Helium

Home > Creative Writing > Poetry

Poetry: Cowboys

by Daniel Hall

Created on: August 26, 2010   Last Updated: August 28, 2010

The Daydreams of a Little Cowboy

I wear the badge

I am the Law

and today I've got

just another job


i'm on the trail

of the murdering thieves

that robbed the bank

at willow creek


they left four dead

when they rode out of town

and now it's my job

to track 'em down


the odds ain't good

when you're ridden alone

but that's the chance you take

when you put this badge on


I cut their trail

at wild horse pass

they've slowed their pace

I can tell by the tracks


there's five or six

by the sign in the sand

and they're headed straight

for the Rio Grand


I cut to the right

and up over the hill

it'll be a hard ride

but I can catch 'em still


down the south face slop

I come

and their they are

not a hundred yards beyond


they turn their ponies

and start to run


with spurs to the belly

and leather to the hide

the tracking’s over

it's time to ride


with this horse of mine

there is no match

and there's no outlaw

we can't catch


I feel him lunge

and pick up speed

to spur him on

there is no need


his hooves are thunder

pounding the ground

and the wind in his nostrils

sounds like a northern

coming down


with wind in my face

and horse at a run

if the game weren't deadly

it might be fun


then I see the smoke

and hear the bullets pass by

I fill my hands

with colt forty-fives


in my palms

they fit just right

I feel 'em itching

for the fight


the time has come

to live or die

I feel 'em buck

and come alive


like hound dogs baying

at the smell of death

the bark and jump

as smoke rolls back to fill my breath


hearts beat fast

and blood runs high

there's lead in the air

and smoke in the sky


they said

try to bring them in a live

but it's too late now

I've made up my mind


it's them or me

I've got no choice

and then I heard

my mother’s voice


I'm not sure

just what she said

but the words chased visions

from my head


and as I stopped

and looked around

there were no outlaws

or desert ground


just two cap guns

and a stick horse toy

and the daydreams of

a little cowboy 




Learn more about this author, Daniel Hall.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

239125

Featured Partner

American Skating Association

Promoting the health and well-being of Americans through programs and activities.more


CONNECT WITH US

Read
our blog
Helum for writers

Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills

Join our active writing community
Helium Content Source for Publishers

Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all

Get custom content today!

INFORMATION


Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA
#