This man, this aging cowboy you see
standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon
with a bittersweet expression on his face,
has ridden into sunsets on dusty trails,
has walked in The Valley of Death,
has met The Shadow, twice, and
twice he has told Death to ride that pale horse out of Dodge.
There’s nothing urban about this cowboy:
he’s at intimate terms with dusty trails, and
refuses to pave them with his remains.
This cowboy didn’t rise like Lazarus:
he had to be brought back with backhoes, air-spades,
shovels, picks—tools that left him dotted
with sores resembling unholy stigmata.
This cowboy cried “Eli, Eli…” as tons of blue clay pressed
on his ribs, forcing him to spill his bladder, compelling him
to bathe in his own blood and urine.
This cowboy has nightmares, but such manifestations
are like sweet dreams to him.
Death doesn't fuck with this cowboy;
would you?
Author notes
Sewer and water installation is dangerous work…Many heavy construction workers have died as a result of unstable ground caving in deep trenches…I was lucky, or blessed.
A contest entry
- Individual Prompts by kiwigirljacks.
700 points, ended November 15, 2008, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 22 of 22
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"would you" <==on its own line break
Otherwise, I enjoyed it all...the story and description were both apt.
Jessica
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Thank you, Jess...will consider your suggestion for revision
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Don't say that if you aren't actually gonna.
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...take a look, then...see.
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Bravo!
your story's are amazing Vito! i really enjoy your stories
Blessings
Rend
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Thank you, Rend. Your input is always welcome.
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Nope, I definitely don't think I'd f*&k with that cowboy!! He sounds tough!
Loved reading this.. given I have also dodged death a couple of times I could definitely relate to that part of the story.
Urban cowboy <== much better to be a country cowboy I say!!
Super take on the prompt!
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Thank you, Jackie...In reality I'm a gentle giant...nobody ever dares me, anyway.
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lose. . .LOL. . .loose or lose?
Hmmm, questions such as these make me wanna say fuck em all anyway
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Ahh, just kidding. Welcome to AP, I see you're new. I am one of those loose women, however, I have a hook caught in my bottom lip for now, so you're relatively safe. However, things are unstable, so ya never know
Ohmy, Im just having fun at someone else's expense.
isn't that the only way to live?
Nobody fucks with this cowboy, except that Indian
Lord dont get me started on the cowboys. . .
LOL
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Thank you, Jin(Jin?)...Grammar lesson: lose = misplace something; loose = your shorts are too wide for your tush. "loose women" is correct, and you're cute, and you can't get me through the monitor...hooks in bottom lips are very welcome.
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oh dear death doesn't ------ with this cowboy, would you ? Is a loaded question. You should not ask questions such as this many lose women in this AP world cowboy ... Your so EASY whats up? this is a wonderful write I felt it all teasing aside be-careful.
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Muchas gracias, senorita...Thank you for the warning...prift, they can't get me through the monitor.
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an interesting read, it sounds like you're very fortunate to walk away from such accidents. I enjoyed the narrative story telling of this write. Well done.
Rory
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Thank you for reading and commenting...input is always welcome.
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good write great use of metaphores. I am glad that you survivied this aweful tragedy of being buried alive. I'd have nightmares too.
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Thank you, thank you very much.
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"Dusty trail"
Let me know if that works for you, otherwise another can be given
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can I use any form of "trail?"
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You can take it wherever your muse wishes to go
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...thus far I got dust in my eyes and can't see the trail or the keyboard
Last time you gave me women and booze, now dusty trail...the latter sounds like my love life.
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