General Poetry posted January 11, 2024


Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level
Western Ballad in 8-6-8-6 format.

Loves Always to Blame.

by Yardier


The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.
The author has placed a warning on this post for language.
THE WIND BLEW COLD THAT WINTER NIGHT
ACROSS THE FROZEN PLAIN,
JACK SET HIS SIGHTS ON DEAD WOOD GULCH
WITH TEXAS SLIM TO BLAME.
 
THE HOLE IN HIS SOUL SOUGHT REVENGE
FUELED WITH A BROKEN HEART,
HE GAVE BISCUIT FREE REIGN TO RUN
AND THE BAY DID HIS PART.
 
BITTER WIND FROZE JACK'S LEATHERED FACE 
THICK SNOWBANKS SLOWED THEM DOWN,
EAGER BISCUIT STUMBLED THEN REARED
DETERMINED THEY PLOWED TO TOWN.
 
SOME SAY ON THAT COLD STORMY NIGHT
JACK FOUND HIS WAY BACK HOME,
THROUGH SWINGING DOORS OF ILL REPUTE
KNOWN AS FOUR QUEENS SALOON.
 
THE FIRE IN JACK’S EYES LIT THE WAY
TO SLIM'S POKER TABLE,
TEXAS SLIM WAS CHEAT’N AGAIN
ARMED, READY AND ABLE.
 
SKINNY LILL RAN BEHIND THE BAR
TRYING TO FIND SOME SPACE,
SHE MADE A LIVING ON HER BACK
SHE HAD A PRETTY FACE.
 
TEXAS SLIM DROPPED HIS ACES
AND STOOD TO FACE THE PAST,
JACK DREW FIRST WITH A FROZEN HAND
BUT SLIM WAS EVIL FAST.
 
“I DIDN’T THINK YOU’D MAKE IT
THROUGH THIS DAMN FREEZING STORM,
NOW I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, JACK
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED AT HOME.”
 
SKINNY LILL GRABBED THE PEACEMAKER
THAT HUNG BENEATH THE BAR,
WITH HER FINGER ON THE TRIGGER
SAID, “THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR.”
 
BEFORE TEXAS SLIM COULD GATHER
HIS ACES OFF THE FLOOR,
SKINNY LILL SHOT HIM THROUGH THE HEART
CHANGE FROM A TWO-BIT WHORE.
 
LILL FACED JACK AND BLEW HIM A KISS
AND LAID THE PISTOL DOWN,
JACK HOLSTERED HIS COLT REVOLVER
SAID, “I’M GLAD I CAME TO TOWN.”
 
SPRING CAME LATE THAT FROZEN YEAR
THE BOBWHITES FAILED TO SING,
DENVER'S STAGECOACH NEVER MADE IT
WITH ALL ITS FANCY THINGS.
 
WHILE OUT BEHIND FOUR QUEENS SALOON
LIE FROZEN IN THE SNOW
SLIM WAITED WITH THE ACE OF SPADES
FOR OFF TO HELL, HE’LL GO.
 
THE MEN FOLK DIDN’T CARE THAT MUCH
ABOUT SLIM FROZEN DEAD,
BUT THEY GRUMBLED WHEN JACK RODE OFF
WITH LILL THEIR MIDNIGHT FRIEND.
 



Recognized

#118
January
2024


A ballad is a poem which tells a story. Ballads which are sung with an instrument, usually a guitar, often contain a refrain repeated through out the poem.
'Love is to Blame' is a story ballad written in 8-6-8-6 syllable count with the rhyming pattern on the second and forth line of each stanza.
Why is Texas Slim frozen with the Ace of Spades? The Ace of Spades is considered the death card.
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