In Shadows They Hide - Poetry Devoted to Darkness and Fear

A Sad Heart Turns to Stone

A Sad Heart Turns to Stone 

Seven days ride from a town named Despair. 
On a three foot wide path leading nowhere. 
No turning back now, I unleashed my wrath. 
I must continue on my chosen path. 

It all began falling deeply in love. 
With a young barmaid who crushed many hearts. 
Her hair spun of golden rays of sunshine. 
Eyes of emerald gemstones so rare to find. 

With a pure heart that I could tell no lie. 
My heart would jump each time she would pass by. 
What unfolded next no one could foresee. 
Nine gun shots that would end in misery. 

The saloon doors swing as a man enters. 
Dressed all in black to impress and cause fear. 
His squinted eyes tell me I should not trust. 
Silence fell, what I feel, is in disgust. 

The silence continues through his third drink, 
that's when he gestures to her with a wink. 
The barmaid approaches, he grows a smirk. 
He whispers to her, what I know is dirt. 

Her smile dissolves as she walks away, 
then he grabs her arm, now she shows dismay. 
"We don't want trouble," the bartender said. 
"Then mind your own business, or you'll be dead." 

This town has no backbone, all they do is pray. 
And he does just that when he looks away. 
Today is different, this man cross my line. 
I won't let him handle this love of mine. 

I stand up slowly, my palm on my gun. 
"Let her go stranger, it's time you leave town." 
As he gazed over through his squinted eyes, 
patrons get nervous and run for their lives. 

"You gonna be a hero with that gun?" 
"I'm asking nicely, leave town, your drink's done." 
"Run on home little fella." He replies, 
as he pulls her in closer, she begins to cry. 

I draw my weapon but not fast enough. 
The gun slinger draws and takes his first shot. 
His drunken bullet graze my left temple. 
I return a blind shot as I tremble. 

I open my eyes to see what I've done. 
I witness my love fall dead to the ground. 
As I stand in shock, I hear his gun cock. 
I flip a table for a place to duck. 

I dive behind it as he shoots again. 
Then I shoot at him in anger and pain. 
"It's time to give up." the man in black said. 
"I'm not giving up until you are dead." 

"This is when my life's been touched by poison, 
as I come in terms with what I have done. 
It's time to avenge my young love's cruel death, 
It's time to place a bullet in this man's head." 

I toss a bar glass up high in the air; 
I shoot at it causing glass to scatter. 
I jump up and see the man turned away, 
I exhale as I aim, and shoot his way. 

I hear the man yell as it penetrates. 
But once again my shot didn't go straight. 
As I watch the man bleed from his shoulder, 
he shoots me from the gun by his holster. 

While I fall back with a cold glazed stare, 
one final time I shoot and say a prayer. 
In slow-mo I watch as my bullet flies, 
and strikes the man dead in between his eyes. 

"Get up young one, it's best that you flee town. 
The man you shot dead was Marshal Bill Brown. 
He's well respected with friends in these parts; 
It's time you leave here and make a fresh start." 

The bartender states as he mends my arm. 
With one last kiss to my love I brought harm, 
I hop on my horse and ride off alone. 
With each passing day, my heart turns to stone.  

Now if you count how many shots were made; 
Surprisingly, we would count only eight. 
The bartender noticed on his daughter, 
the shot entered from her back that killed her. 

Who killed the barmaid during the attack? 
A muffled shot made by the man in black. 
Now a young man rides carrying a burden, 
In darkness he strolls, sadly mistaken.