Steven Fromholz: New and Selected Poems

Heroes

-42Heroes He was a gentleman from the South. You should’ve seen him on his horse. Him and that jughead they rode about. It’s been some years ago, of course. There was a time when I loved him well Though we had never passed a word. But I witnessed some of the deeds that he’d done, son, Wondrous stories I had heard. There wasn’t no one knew his name. He didn’t mind, They’re all the same, if you’re listenin’. He had a lyric in his eyes, They were the color of the skies, And I wanted to go with him. He was a Hero. He helped the sodbuster save his farm, When Bad Lee Rancher cut the fence. He plugged a gunslinger, but he only shot him in the arm. To heroes, killin’ makes no sense. His way with the ladies was kind of shy. He usually shuffled in the dust. A farmer’s daughter she received a smile, While his faithful horse received his trust. Well, on his Appaloosa he could fill The calaboose up in an evenin’. He could catch the rustlers cold, Save the gold and then be gone, Before you knew that he was leavin’. He was a hero. -43We tried to get him to settle down, As we gave thanks for what he’d done. He single-handedly saved the town, And then he rode off into the sunset. He always seemed to be movin’ on, But of a hero’s life I’ve learned, He is a friend to depend upon, If we’re in trouble, he’ll return. Well, I’d like to buy a mule And paint it white And play the fool And learn to draw quick. Well, maybe he would let me Ride beside him under western skies. I’d be his sidekick. He was a Hero. Copyright © 1978, Prophecy/Bughouse Songwriter, Steven Fromholz (ASCAP) ...