A Bright Light Has Gone Out In Soup Creek
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December 5th 1941 ~ December 22nd 2022
It was coming up for Christmas in the town of Soup Creek
Everyone was in good spirits and they had been all week
Jenna's saloon was very busy and Tania was about to sing
Folks had to stand and Jenna wished she had more seating.
Tom glanced over to the gambling table at an empty chair
Normally Milt would be playing his hand but he wasn't there
Mayor Tom felt quite uneasy; something just didn't feel right
Milt sat down at the gambling table had been a familiar sight.
Ranger Dave and Deputy Terry came in and stood at the bar
They'd come in to hear Tania sing and Tom play on the guitar
After they'd finished Tom then asked Dave "where did Milt go"?
Dave said "he was out of town and had gone down to Mexico".
Christmas came and went but of Milt there was no clue
Folks were getting concerned now; he was long overdue
Then came a telegram from a small town in West Virginia
The operator in the telegraph office handed it to Anaya.
She said I'm passing the mayor's office so I'll hand it to Tom
Who looked quite puzzled and wondered who it was from
Tom opened it very slowly and then he nearly fell back
It said Milt had passed and he wouldn't be coming back.
Tom went to see Sheriff Koplin to show him the telegram
He read the news in disbelief and he muttered "oh damn"
" Get over to the square and let the townsfolk know" he said
"Times getting on so ring the bell or they'll all be in bed".
Tom rang the town bell loudly and everyone gathered around
It was noisy then Tom raised his hand and there wasn't a sound
Tom said " I've got some bad news about someone we hold dear "
And then there was loud gasps and sobbing and many a tear.
Tania and Deb stepped forward, and started singing abide with me
Then the townsfolk joined in it was a touching sight to see
It was late evening and crickets chirped as the sun went down
A bright light had gone out forever in our peaceful frontier Town.
The saloon will be closed tonight as Soup Creek grieves in sorrow
Jenna said she had something to do and would open again tomorrow
Milt's chair would be removed from the gambling table on the floor
And raised up to the balcony in his honor, to be sat upon no more.
Milton was chuffed to be part of the Soup Creek story and I wrote this poem to honour him.
The last stanza was written by Jenna Logan
(Sleep well Milton, we'll never forget you.)
Written on 29th December 2022.
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2022
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