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A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To My Hanging

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IMAGE CREDIT - myfavourite western

A funny thing happened on the way to my hanging Couldn't sleep the night before my head was banging I was innocent of a crime that I did not commit But they roughed me up and got me to admit. The face on the wanted posters said it was me Anyone seeing those posters would be inclined to agree I was in a horse drawn prison wagon with bars down the side Thinking to myself, it will be my last ever ride. Heading for the gallows then onto Boot hill To pay for shooting a bank teller that I didn't kill Two miles from the town all hell did break loose Unbeknownst to me I'd be dodging the noose. For ten desperados' brought the wagon to stop Then ordered the guards, their weapons they drop Some gang members got me out and they set me free The gang leader approached and he looked just like me. He said " in this life you look out for your own " Then he told me something that I hadn't known " We were Separated at birth and we had the same mother " And that this mean desperado was in fact my twin brother . " We heard that you'd been framed for our crime spree But you are my brother and that's why we've set you free. The teller had died because he went for his gun We grabbed all the money and went on the run ". He gave me some money and said " start a new life " Told me head south, settle down and find a good wife There was so much I wanted to ask him and so much to say My brother said " some other time, best be on your way " . Written on 4th July 2018. For a funny thing happened on the way to...poetry contest, sponsored by Robert Haigh.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018




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Date: 4/8/2024 9:17:00 AM
Tom, I enjoyed reading the Western themed story told by this poem.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/8/2024 10:31:00 AM
Thank you very much David, I'm happy you enjoyed it, this was one of three after requests from two poets on here. Tom
Date: 1/14/2024 5:45:00 AM
I have read your work and enjoyed reading it. Keep on writing, using your creative muse. Sara K
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/14/2024 10:33:00 AM
Thank you very much Sara, im happy you that you enjoyed it. This was just the start and I wrote two more after requests from poets on here. Tom
Date: 5/10/2023 1:11:00 PM
i see this has a win and that it ended up your second best poem Really cool, tom!!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/10/2023 11:00:00 PM
Thank you very much Andrea, it was the first of three after Lin and Caren requested follow ups. Tom
Date: 1/14/2021 11:21:00 AM
Tom, The wild west, what a time. Was it really such a bad place to live? Except for cholera, smallpox, typhoid fever, diphtheria typhus, measles, shigella, etc. This poem has new meaning come the next 4th of July. -Richard
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/14/2021 2:13:00 PM
Thank you Richard, its always fascinated me, stories of the wild west. I wrote another two parts to this one Same title with part deux and same title the conclusion. Hope you're keeping well. Tom
Date: 11/15/2020 4:11:00 PM
Tom, what a great western story set into poetry, love it, and yay it continues, will go read those now. Big congrats on your winning poem. Hugs
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/16/2020 1:09:00 AM
Thank you very much Cecilia, it was a one off for a contest but after a couple of requests I continued the story. Tom
Date: 11/15/2020 2:57:00 PM
What a great story put to poetic rhyme, Tom.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/15/2020 3:02:00 PM
Thank you very much Franci, this was the first of a trilogy I wrote. Tom
Date: 11/14/2020 7:35:00 AM
I remember this one, featured for your lifetime membership! Such a great one!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/14/2020 7:47:00 AM
Thank you very much Kim, that was the first, after requests from lin lane and Caren, two more followed. Tom
Date: 11/14/2020 12:40:00 AM
Welcome Tom. Interesting narrative flow in each quatrain of the poem. Lovely rhyme scheme to tease the reader. Lovely storey-line. Enjoy very much.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/14/2020 3:02:00 AM
Thank you very much Leonard, I'm pleased that you enjoyed it. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 9:32:00 PM
What a wonderful poem! Love the flow.. Nice one!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/14/2020 3:01:00 AM
Thank you very much Carmael, I'm happy you liked it. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 2:48:00 PM
...wowza man....sometimes we do ride the reality waves of unseen constants and/or variables....for better or worse....stan sand
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 3:00:00 PM
Thank you very much Stan, you're so right. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 2:12:00 PM
A song of hope for all of us innocents. As the Dalai Lama says, "Never Give Up"
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 2:14:00 PM
Thank you very much Joe, love the quote. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 12:27:00 PM
your story telling is awesome, Tom, enjoyed reading. Hugs Eve
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 12:40:00 PM
Thank you very much Eve, I'm happy you enjoyed it Hope you're doing well. Have a great weekend. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 11:34:00 AM
What a magnificent write, a most enjoyable read Tom, fabulous... Belle
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 11:45:00 AM
Thank you very much Belle, there's another two parts to this of the same name, part deux and the conclusion if you enjoyed it. Have a lovely weekend. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 10:17:00 AM
Tom, such a great yarn set in the wild west. You have such a talent for verifying a compelling tale. I enjoyed this very much ~ John
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 10:53:00 AM
Thank you very much John, I grew up reading Louis L'Amours western novels and I suppose it rubbed off on me, I've been up to my neck(excuse the pun lol) in decorating and finished today, got some catching up to do on soup. Hope you are well and enjoy your weekend. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 10:10:00 AM
I think this is worth a classroom read. Simple enough and filled with history that can create nice conversation on Friday afternoon
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 10:49:00 AM
Thank you very much Marc, Im pleased you enjoyed it. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 9:45:00 AM
I really enjoy reading your poems Tom
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 10:49:00 AM
Thank you very much Lisa, I hope you are keeping well. Enjoy your weekend. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 9:12:00 AM
What a wonderful adventure so cleverly formulated in a beautifully written poem. I loved it.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 10:48:00 AM
Thank you very much Melody, im happy that you enjoyed it. Tom
Date: 11/13/2020 8:59:00 AM
Great storytelling, Tom: Congratulations on being. Featured poet. Your poems are so worth the spotlight. Big hugs, SuZ
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 10:47:00 AM
Thank you very much Suz, im pleased that you enjoyed it, I hope all is well with you. Have a lovely weekend. Tom
Date: 9/22/2020 6:15:00 AM
Tom, this is humorous and well-written. I always like a good "mistaken identity" story, anyway. This one, definitely!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/22/2020 6:59:00 AM
Thank you very much Carol, after requests from fellow soupers I wrote a part deux with the same title and one called the conclusion. Happy you enjoyed it. Tom
Date: 6/19/2020 10:52:00 AM
Nice twist in the story. I suspect something like this must really have happened back in the wild West. And you managed to escape the hangman's noose. A happy ending.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/19/2020 11:47:00 AM
Thank you very much W. A, I love stories of the old west, if you enjoyed this one there's another two parts to this story. Tom
Date: 1/13/2020 7:31:00 AM
Great story, Tom, I've always enjoyed a good cowboy scene. but I would hate to look like another person that looks like me that has done wrong. Eve
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/13/2020 8:22:00 AM
Thanks very much Eve, wrote a follow up to that story. Part deux. Tom
Date: 1/2/2020 2:50:00 PM
Wow; a nice take on a lucky break . . . : )
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Indiana Shaw
Date: 1/2/2020 6:40:00 PM
Yes; Tom, thank you and Happy New Year, to you and yours. Indiana . . . : )
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/2/2020 3:06:00 PM
Thank you Indiana, happy you enjoyed it. Happy New year to you. Tom
Date: 9/18/2019 9:55:00 AM
Nice story being told through poem!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/19/2019 1:58:00 AM
Thank you Sakshi, happy you enjoyed it, wrote another with same title with part Deux at the end. Tom
Date: 7/18/2019 6:19:00 AM
Reread this one, Tom! Love the story and its humor...he best be on his way.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 7/18/2019 6:30:00 AM
Thanks Kim, my love of western novels inspired me. I wrote a follow up with the same title and added part deux. Tom
Date: 3/31/2019 8:51:00 PM
Great story, Tom, congratulations on your win. Hugs Eve ~`*
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/1/2019 6:34:00 AM
Thanks Eve, happy you enjoyed it. Tom.
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