Playin' the part

Sidewinder

as in Low Down, No Good, No Count, Cur Dog,

Son of a Bottom Dealin’, Horse Stealin’,

Cattle Rustlin’, Claim Jumpin’, Train Robbin’,

Tin Horn, Yella’ Bellied, Pole Cat of a

Hornswogglin’, Mule Skinnin’, Gun Totin’,

Whisky Swillin’, Bushwhackin’, Sumbitch

is what I’m thinkin’ sittin’ here waitin’

for Jimmy Stewart to send Lee Marvin

packin’ to Boothill in a pinewood box .

Gene Pitney singin’ “The man who shot

Liberty Valance, he shot Liberty Valance,

 he was the bravest of them all” over

scrollin’ credits:  a yella’ yet lovable  

sheriff, a principled yet mewlin’

teacher, a flinty yet calculatin’

journalist and Marvin’s venal Valance

balancin’ Duke Wayne’s Tom Doniphon;

solitary brooder, mien of menace

in service to honor, yet “aw shucks mam”

humble and unassumin’, parts I play

again and again, some bettern’ others,

here among tumblin’ tumble weeds

blowin’ down empty streets, past false fronts

of my very own one horse town of Shinbone.