Long Abilene Poems

The biggest funeral I've ever attended...


Thelma was a waitress at the diner on the corner of 4th and Oak, across from Ron’s DX, in Abilene.
They had an old brass register that rang when it was...

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What I’m going to tell you now might make you think I’m loco. I hope that you’ll believe me, but I don’t care if you do.
You asked me what - in all my life’s -...

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This piece is based on a true series of events --


First time me an’ Jessie seen him - walkin’ in from nowheres - 
couldn’t o’ been a stranger sight - as each of us recalls,
But...

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those early attempts at a Mexican food
no store bought cardboard taco shells
she had to prepare her own
the appearance of the tortilla press
the arrival of the tortilla holder
became a beginning to a menagerie of new tools...

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Loving my refurbished fifteen inch mid 2015 Macbook Pro

A lightning fast machine
purchased three days ago
now comfortably nestling with
said technological wonder,
where outside a cold wind howls
measuring windchill factor of five below
allowing, enabling and providing me
an opportunity...

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This young greenhorn was simply wasting his time trying to outsmart Shorty!

               Nothin’ Left to Chance


Sittin’ in this tavern, lookin’ back...

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there is a reason i requested this restaurant
much to ponder tonight in our realm
i brought you here on our first date
praying anxiously for a Lady and the Tramp moment
you brought the romantic within me to...

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Screaming Guillotines

I.

I sit on the wide veranda of this house called America,
And I can see the Beast Boys coming our jungled way,
Coming like wild torrents of lapping flames over the astonished landscape,
Coming with black eyes...

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Another Day...Another Accursed Blank Screen

Ma wink'n and blink'n
     mind nod yet awake,
     nor insights keen,
asper ho hum usual, this
     (day-glo bull leave
 ...

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A hot breeze blew the other day, as the Chipmunk Kid rode into Troll Lake Town.
He rode on the oldest, slowest steed, that I had ever seen, a Snail called Abilene.
He came a packing, with...

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On those cool summer evenings when coyotes haunt the night
And the campfire is dying—burning low, then flaring bright,
A cowboy plays harmonica while others sing and hum
While down by the chuck wagon a lonely guitar does...

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Down in the orchard an old woman lies -
Once a fair beauty when Texas was young.
She rests 'neath marble of adequate size,
But most of her deeds are left here unsung.

A widow from Georgia she came...

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Things wuz purty quiet 'til them thirsty cowpokes stormed into Abilene town!
They'd been on the long and dusty trail and wuz ready to toss some whiskey down!
The trail boss paid 'em thar wages sayin', "Boys,...

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The Brown Eyed Calf

Now ol’ Dan was a calf roper
Won lots of cash that way
He’d rope at county fairs and such
A big boost to his pay.

He done it for so many years
They got to seem...

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The ol' saddle warn't much to look at but it was all Buck could afford.
He paid Billy five bucks fer it when Billy died and loped to his eternal reward!
The saddle fit his hoss Dan...

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Hank had cowboyed on the Triple T Ranch fer nigh on fifty years.
He'd rode the range herdin' beef peerin' betwixt his hoss's ears.
Durin' cattle stampedes he'd broke bones and many a time was throwed,
And he'd...

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When cowboys sprawl 'round the camp fire after the days work is done,
They strum guitars and tootle harmonicas and sing to have fun.
Real cowboys don't sing Honky-Tonk or She Done Me Wrong stuff.
They leave that...

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Hank lounged on his porch watchin' the sun slowly sinkin' in the west.
He'd cowboyed for nigh on sixty years and figgered he'd done his best.
Hank and his faithful hoss Old Dan was now enjoyin' their...

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thunder roars all around us
rain has pillaged the Earth in petrichor
trees bend in the wind 
and retrieve their stature
only to succumb to yet another burst
two pluviophile's sitting on the balcony
our conversations are mostly absent 
from...

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Hank rested his boots on the railin' of the bunkhouse when day was done.
The pointy-toes of his scruffy boots framed the slowly settin' sun.
He leaned back in his rockin' chair, his hands embracin' the back...

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Hank had rode the range a-punchin' cattle fer nigh on fifty years,
Ridin' through Texas northers and brandin' cantankerous steers.
He'd herded ornery longhorns along the Chisolm Trail to Abilene.
He'd signed on with the Triple D Ranch...

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Was near high noon in Abilene,
Everybody was at the scene.
Sheriff was stern and standing fast,
Clueless today would be his last.

A mystery man rode into town, 
Said was the fastest gun around.
A Navy Colt strapped by...

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Gunfight in old Abilene

With his hat drawn way down, reins loose in his hands
His horse sweating pints, the sun burning down
The dust from the trail was choking his throat
The Abilene sign, said, two miles to...

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I drive the night because of open road.
My retreads are sounding strong.
Hauling cars up from New Orleans
Where I'm not sure that I belonged.

Traded whiskey for a woman
At a bar in Abilene.
Then a long haul up...

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Slim was pigeon-toed and bow-legged from allus bein' astraddle,
Of his faithful hoss Old Dan and his well-worn creakin' saddle!
He'd spent 30 years gazin' twixt Old Dan's ears ridin' the spread.
Now both is retired and he...

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