Wild Bill S. #115

mortality drifts in from the wild west
on a lazy-eyed horse with a crooked
leg. laughing, he says, it’s the best blessed
way to avoid them rattlers. he took thread,
and a jackknife, and said, these here strings is
the length you got to live. you can make ‘em
a coat, you can give ‘em to the missus,
tie up the dogs, make your pants a nice hem.
but when is all and said is done, i still
got the knife, he said, so youse might a mind.
she’s sharp and cruel and ready to duel - kill
‘ya before youse blink an eye. so behind
his back we scoffed at his miniature sword,
shielded our eyes, waited for the last word.