
The B-Westerns’ barroom brawls
have spawned a herd of wannabes
with renewed gossip among the locals—
and every year someone dies
with too many horses powered
by alcohol. And all the young wranglers
stay sensible, until they forget
the promises they made to themselves,
their wives and families.
A century and a half ago,
a horse knew his slow way home,
and if his rider fell off
it usually didn’t kill him.