Alone

He came out of the west riding slowly, the sun and sand 
did their best to make him wish he had never begun this quest 

He left Ohio when barely a teen,  nary a thought to what he left behind, 
a hundred acre farm, a father with a switch for an arm, a mother, 
pain and hardship aged beyond her years,  now at forty three, 
tired and forlorn, seeking stability, begins the long trek home 

The trail before him offers little hope, sagebrush undulates
in the wake of dust devils fashioned by rising heat, 
face blistered, lips cracked, dry, overexposed, offer
no relief, until sunset, and the cool of the night 

Weeks on the trail, his will to prevail broken as the desert
becomes his destiny, longing for what he will never have again, 
the love of a woman to hold and comfort him, 
memories rush before him as reliving again, 
fade, are quickly forgotten, his body decaying, 
bones bleached and polished by wind and sun, 
his quest to be forever pending, his horse finally moves on, 
so far from home, he dies alone
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Cwiak Avatar
May 22, 2010 at 6:14 AM
Great write. Congrats on your win in the contests! Dan C
Freeman Avatar
May 21, 2010 at 7:53 PM
Congratulations Mac, on your win in Deb's contest. Agape, Moses
Brown Avatar
May 21, 2010 at 4:22 AM
Congratulations on your win in Deborah's contest "Giddy Up" Mac. Love, Carol
Johnson Avatar
May 20, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Very, very sad. Congratulations on your win. Love, Joyce
Fraser Avatar
May 20, 2010 at 8:43 AM
Mac, congratulations on your win in Deborah's contest >> James
Guzzi Avatar
May 13, 2010 at 2:15 PM
Big smile! Light & Love
Taylor Avatar
May 12, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Excellent, Mac. A tragic story but wonderfully scripted. Good luck in the contest.
Sweetheart Avatar
May 12, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Wonderful entry for the contest Mac and so glad to see u back again .... good luck in the Old West Contest with this brilliant write... with luv from the "Sweetheart"
Devonshire Avatar
May 12, 2010 at 12:51 PM
There were probably many who perished in the manner you describe, Mac. This poem could be developed into a move. Good work! Best wishes, Carolyn
Green Avatar
May 11, 2010 at 10:36 PM
I sure hope this is for the contest, a WONDERFUL poem. Epic. Loved it!
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