Trouble in River City...

the sheriff's badge is rusty

in the moist air of apathy.

Down at the Not-So-OK Corral

the lead flies

and the peacemakers fall

despite the rehearsed script.

Spurs jingle

as Black pete swaggers

into Sam's saloon

with the confidence

of a bull mastiff

in a cat fight.

The piano stops.

Cards fall onto tables

and cheap whisky spills

as common cowboys tremble

wondering

who will face this foe?

Out in the dusty street

spurs jingle as

footsteps echo

from history's shopfronts.

The women

run and hide.