Ghost Town

Way up there in the Colorado mountains at around 9000 feet,
There once was a thrivin' village that served as the county seat.
It was a boom and bust town that now lies in desolate shambles,
Its one-time stately buildin's now overgrown with creepin' brambles.

'Tis said that a vein of gold was discovered when a feller dug deep,
To bury a friend who was gored to death by an irate mountain sheep!
His discovery was known as Dead Man's claim and the rush was on,
And to the place hordes of miners, gamblers and rabble was drawn.

There were three or four rowdy saloons on each and every block,
Servin' booze and featurin' high-kickin' women around the clock.
A Methodist church and a school brought a tad of culture to the place.
Folks of finer tastes thought 'soiled doves' paradin' about a disgrace!

An untended graveyard gives witness to the wickedness of the town,
As headstone etchin's reveal the doom of many who were gunned down!
Yet is heard the phantom sounds from saloons from rabble goin' bananers,
Fightin', gamblin' and dancin' to the tinklin' of out-of-tune peeaners!

Northerly winds prod tumble weeds up and down dusty thoroughfares,
Streets once teemin' with humanity goin' about their nefarious affairs.
Now is only heard the ghostly creakin' of rusty hinges on saggin' doors,
When frigid winter winds bear down upon those dreary windswept moors!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Makama Avatar
December 17, 2015 at 3:56 AM
lines with curves of wisdom and landscapes of awe! My mind is in a park of joy to how I manage selecting this page. Keep on writing dear poet and as always, a wonderful 7 without a doubt!
Nehls Avatar
October 5, 2015 at 7:13 AM
Hi Bob. This is a great poem about the ghost towns that are numerous out west. There are many here in Montana and the story is about the same in most of them. It's fun to visit these old towns where imagination and facts can certainly run wild with good stories. This is a wonderful poem, my friend and a joy to read.... Robert.
Eastman Avatar
September 24, 2015 at 10:33 AM
Seen a couple of these in my day when on vacation... My Dad loved them and took us to out of the way places.
A  Avatar
September 15, 2015 at 9:07 PM
I like this very much Bob H. SKAT
Hinshaw Avatar
September 16, 2015 at 12:57 PM
thank you, Skat - there are many old ghost towns here in Colorado and we have visited many of them. Best to you - bob
Laurie Avatar
September 13, 2015 at 7:08 PM
G'day Robert... the moral of your wonderful poem is; don't tell anyone if you discover gold in your back yard unless of course you enjoy guns, booze an' wimmin. Thanks Robert - Lindsay
Merryman Avatar
September 12, 2015 at 5:17 PM
I enjoyed your poem very much, Bob! I really like your words "bananers" and "peeaners". A fun write! Love, Kim
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