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.
