The Cowboy and the Geezer

a poem by Codey

• The old man sat in the shade
• of his ramshackle old abode,
• when, off in the distance, he spied a horse
• coming down the dusty road.
• On the horse, there sat a rider
• with features dim eyes couldn’t see.
• The old man watched and wondered
• just who this stranger could be.
•  
• The cowboy rode tall in the saddle
• with his horse at a gentle trot.
• “Welcome stranger” the geezer said
• as the cowboy rode up and stopped.
• “If you have time to tarry,
• you’re welcome to rest a spell.
• Tie your horse up in the shade.
• There’s cool water in my well.”
•  
• “I thank you for your kindness sir
• but I dare not linger long.
• There is a bullet in my chest
• and soon I must be gone.”
• “How came you to get that bullet, boy,
• you carry in your chest?
• were you beset by brigands?
• Come sit awhile and rest.”
•  
• “I left home but six months ago
• coming West to earn my fortune.
• There’s gold in California hills
• and I was bound to get my portion.
• I found the treasure that I sought
• but another wanted my gold.
• He left me dying in the dark
• and now I’ll never grow old.”
•  
• “I’ve come to choose a saddle mate,
• someone to call my friend.
• To show me sights I’ve never seen
• and places I’ve never been.
• To ride with me among the stars
• chasing mavericks with fiery tails.
• To sit with me around the fire
• regaling me with his tales.”
•  
• “There’s not much good in being old.”
• the geezer sadly said.
• Then looking anew at the stranger, he asked
• “Are you then truly dead?
• Are you an old man’s vision,
• merely seen in a fitful dream?
• Or, perhaps, an ethereal messenger
• fulfilling some unknown scheme?”
•  
• “Tho’ I am old and past my prime
• I’ll gladly be your friend.
• I’ll show you sights you’ve never seen
• and take you places you’ve never been.
• I’ll ride with you among the stars,
• we’ll chase mavericks with fiery tails.
• We’ll sit ‘round celestial campfires,
• I have a lifetime of tales to tell.”
•  
• The old man sat in the shade
• of his ramshackle old abode.
• Off in the distance were two horses
• heading up the dusty road.
• On each horse there sat a rider
• with features living eyes couldn’t see.
• It was the cowboy and the geezer.
• Two souls now riding free.