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Some Place That Used to Be : Halloween Poetry

written by Poet : oldhoppy26


 

It's some place that used to be

Where all things would fall twixt—

A beat, battered, broken shell

Off old Route 66.

 

He rode a Silverado

That was a dusty gold,

His clothes were worn and ragged—

Their style was odd and old.

 

They watched him as he walked in

To Wally's Waffle Place—

With silver spurs that jingled,

A hat that hid his face.

 

He strolled up to the counter

And placed two gold coins there—

"I'll take a big heap," he said,

"Of yer fine dinin' fare."

 

Well, he sat down on a stool—

Pulled makin's from his vest—

"No smokin'!" growled the waitress,

"This here ain't the Old West!"

 

Well, the stranger tipped back what

Looked like a cowboy hat

And then slowly rolled his smoke

And grinned just like a cat.

 

"I don't mean no disrespect,

But this here's open range—

Though I must of wandered off,

'Cause you folks sure is strange.

 

"See, I had to leave my hawse

When he done pulled up lame—

Then found that hawseless carriage—

Got me here all the same."

 

It's some place that used to be

Where all things would fall twixt—

A beat, battered, broken shell

Off old Route 66.

 

"Seems some things has changed 'round here—

They caught the James Gang, yet?

And how 'bout Wild Bill Hickok?

He's still real fast, I bet!

 

"And what ya hear of Custer

And all of his good friends?

Heard he's clearin' our country

Of all the Indians!

 

"Reckon I'm out of touch some—

Been ridin' 'round so long—

It feels like forever

And that now I don't belong."

 

The waitress stared – told the cook

To dial up 911—

She knew something was not right

With this old cowboy son.

 

"Now, we don't want no trouble,"

She stated in soft words—

"But all I want is my grub,

'Fore I rides to the herd."

 

"Say, mister – you all right?" that

Waitress asked all concerned,

But then she saw his six gun—

"Well, now I'll be goll-derned!"

 

Then that cowboy disappeared—

The Silverado gone—

With tire tracks toward the desert,

Lost in the purple dawn.

 

And so all the legends go—

But these are just the facts:

They say they found that old truck,

Then just a horse's tracks.

 

So when you go to Wally's—

If that's what you must do—

You'll find a deserted shack

Closed in 1992.

 

It's some place that used to be

Where all things would fall twixt—

A beat, battered, broken shell

Off old Route 66.

 

   

Originally Posted On Site: 2009-10-27 15:30:49
Last Login: 03.02.10


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