The Marked Man
Moonlight caught me, I blinked hard
Knives in the night, a vicious shard
Slept with a gun under my pillow, always
How pathetic, I let down my guard
Cross me, do so as mortal peril
Because you’ll be staring at the bottom of the barrel
Cigarette burn, my glass all sterile
Christmas Eve, chapel with carols
I pick up the revolver
“Hello, problem, I’m the solver”
The full moon comes in with werewolves
I put away the steel and bring out the silver
Chase them hard, chase them into the woods
Disappear into the trees, I burn them down, how so crude
Excuse me, didn’t mean to be rude
But seriously, I am not in the mood
Bandolier strapped, I walk into the saloon
Weather worn hat, and a poncho in maroon
Whiskey at the counter, a whisper enough
To silence the chaos in the room
At high noon
I check my spurs, my steed awaits
The trap is set, and I’ve laid the bait
“Round of poker, good sir?”, “No, thanks”
Explosions in my eyes, dynamite in my crate
My saddlebags and saddle sores
Painted red, bled in lead, full of holes
My other friend, a companion to fiasco
Hemp and moonshine, my trusty lasso
You pass through town, you pay the tariff
You want in? Then meet the sheriff
Faced wolves in sheep’s clothin, and blood sucking crazies
I’ve seen the undead, all grave, not pushing daisies
I pull the bandanna up, nurse my glass
After all, battles don’t rob you of class
A scar on my mouth, I ran it in my day
So if you’re serving pastries, pleasantries and poison– I’ll pass.
There’s burn marks on my old denim
It’s protected me from basilisk venom
And now look at you, big bad Reaper
He could’ve taken me then, but there was something deeper
He smiles at me, twirls his chain
Wow, Which of us is more insane?
“You’ve outstayed your welcome, partner
And your empty pockets show you have naught to barter
Your actions had a cost, I’m afraid
I’m owed a debt, and someone has to pay”
I say “I got some dice here, do you ever dabble?”
He asks me if I’m up for one last battle
The sun shines outside, hint of lightning static
He says “let’s step outside, the weather’s fantastic”
He leads me to the center square, straight and true
Mud squelches under my boots, I’m itching to shooot
He looks at my steed, I tell him “that’s my prized stallion”
He said “you’re going to your grave, what do you want, a medallion?”
I ask if I’m headed for eternal torment?
I ask if I deserved a prior warning?
He points at the bullet holes on my garment
And says “I might not be fair, but I’m always honest”
He had his back to me, but was I backed into a corner?
I might forfeit life, but I won’t forfeit honour
Because fighting was all I’m good at, learnt from my father
And there’s no excuse not to try, even if you’re a goner
I said, “this don’t seem fair, you got a blade against my gun, at a distance”
He doesn’t respond, his scythe turns into a phantom etched pistol
I whistle, he says “oh, do you like it?”
I say, “in different circumstances, I would’ve loved to try it.”
Our eyes locked, a message delivered in tandem
Oh how, I wish, one last time, I got to see my grandson
He sighs, I smile, I know this game
The ring of steel without taunts and tantrums
Even if I survived this I’d be decidedly less handsome.
Ah my old revolver, it’s got me through enough scrapes
Each bullet singing out yet another escape
Kept it well oiled, my senses all sharpened
Wind caressed my skin, stirred the Reaper’s cape
My hand goes to my hip,
He lets his hood slip
I see a skull on fire,
Can’t lose my grip
My life of violence, of lies and defiance
And he was my old friend too, a very old alliance
Because I had sent beasts and men into his embrace
He acknowledged it in his heavy silence
Maybe I was about to have a taste
I said “draw” and then my fingers automatic
Pulled out my weapon, evidence of hours of practice
I fire, I almost see the whizz as the bullet speeds towards him
But it wouldn’t put him down, the fact is
It clanged against its pistol, knocked it from his fingers
I try to dodge, too late, I had let the moment linger
His gun makes no sound, it’s explosion almost like art
His shot catches me right next to my heart
Now that’s more like it, a stone cold killer
A bell rings, he looks sad, “ain’t that a dead ringer”
He walks over softly, almost floating over the ground
And said, “this town better put a gold star on your mound ”
Was I on a ledge, he had the ledger, balancing accounts
He set me against the wall, and gave me a cigarette and some counsel
“That’s the best tobacco in the West, you earned this smokin’
Soon I’ll be gone, like a dream, and then you’ll be awoken
”When you go down there, you may keep this token
And if you survive the trials with your will unbroken
It’ll be like a letter of recommendation, all unspoken
The head honcho, he thinks you can be of use
If not, then with your candour, he might be amused
I took a puff and said I was confused
“Your body’s shot, I can’t heal
But with the honcho you can make a deal
You can think for yourself, there’s no point in forcing
If you can cater to his wishes, I’ll give you an endorsement
An enforcer bringing balance
use your talents,
Treat with malice
Punish the good and wicked
Don’t get it twisted, or be friends
You serve, it isn’t for you to acquit them
You’re gifted, but you got ideals
So you might not feel it’s the right deal
It’s a chance offered to one in a million
Tell me, how’s it look against oblivion?”
Ah, its nothing but an enclosure
I wasn’t going to accept this excuse for a closure
I dip my hand in my shirt, what a nice pretext
Does it perhaps disturb him to see me vexed?
But if I’m going, might as well pull the dynamite switch...
The blinding light envelopes us both, and he chuckles “that’s rich”
The reaper held up a finger and time stopped
He laughed, he chuckled “that’s all you got?”
I’m curious,"what would happen if by my hand you were defeated?”
He smiled “I think you know the cycle would have repeated
No legends, no stories, it wouldn’t have returned your life
It would have been my victory regardless, I would have simply passed you my scythe
You would’ve donned this robe and walked around collecting
Never tiring, inevitable, immortal, powerful
But the futility of it all might make you a touch sorrowful
I said ”Congratulations on winning, I understand, and I’ll rest”
He said “Rejection? Well, feller, you got me impressed
We’ve been partners in justice long enough, and as a foe you were no less
Farewell, for you were truly one of the best.”
As I passed I reflected on the consequence of legacies
The nonsense of fighting battles for the world that they can’t see
Because they’ll cry for now, and go on filling my vacancy
The Reaper and Life, both brothers in discrepancy
Liked or faved by...
