A GUNSLINGERS GHOST

from the past and my love of the novels of louis lamore

A GUNSLINGERS GHOST

dreaming in the desert sunset,
i saw an old gunslinger
riding his ghost trail,
down from the sierra madre
on a dust colored zebra dun...
through the apache homeland,
under a hot copper sky
with heat waves
washing like blood
from a fresh kill
on a serrated edge,
this apparition,
a whang leather tough man
who trusted only himself,
his horse, and his weapons...
for every second in this life 
is a cherished moment,
because life
 in this desolate sun blistered land,
is a struggle for survival
from day to day,
with each day
 a final test,
where failure is death,
and
death never comes easy
when buzzards are teachers...

Reviews

[dan]

Buzzards, the ultimate umpires, the final scorekeepers. The legends of the old gunslingers has been romanticized forever, their heroic victories of good over evil, remain a large part of our history as it was in their time. This is a beautiful piece memorializing their memory. Very nicely done. take care...dan

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you for the kind words...i think this image of the western man is an archetype for the mythic american hero...do you agree???

[dan]

Absolutely

[....................]

Love Louis L'Amour novels and read quite a few over the years, the Sacketts being my favorite characters, of course. Love this inspired write, Jeannemarie... life for a gun slinger was lived moment by moment and the land was never kind... excellent write!

[JayceeC]

I love your vision of the blood washed countrside as the sunset turns to red. No frontier land was ever easy, and there are those who still test this land trying to cross our borders. Texas in the summer is unforgiving and far too many mistakes are made and lives claimed. The history of our pasts serve as a lesson, but at least the gunslinger had his horse. Beautiful imagery and wonderful story. I love to look at our land and try to see visions of the past.

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the poetry.
"where failure is death,
and
death never comes easy
when buzzards are teachers..."
The above are true for the old cowboys. Thank you dear Poet for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[jeannemarie coulter]

your kind words and understanding inspire me...thank you and blessed be...

[Coyote Poetry]

Was a pleasure to read your words and you are welcome.

[Perkele.7885]

I had a nice review for ya, mam but, I got this here wad of dust in ma mouth an' I kin hardly type on ma k-bord mam.

[jeannemarie coulter]

dry chuckles here...glad you enjoyed the creation...i love the old westerns...don't you...

[wordman]

you know you painted a awsome picture here,life had to be rough
and i guess only the strong survived..loved the theme of a gunslinger ghost
makes you wonder who it was

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you...probably a louis lamour character like one of the sacketts, or killkinny, hondo before john wayne recreated him for the movies...lol...

[wordman]

orbilly the kid or jessee james

[jeannemarie coulter]

sure that will work...lol...jc

[James]

I read some louis laomor books. I like what images you painted here. the last two lines are dead sound!!!