Dusk On The High Plains

Dusk on the high plains,
      Jed poured the thick black coffee,
Knelt next to the campfire,
      His horse nearly swallowed in the shadows:
Steve wrote.

The day ahead would be crucial
      In Jed's search, hot on the trail,
Looking for the sergeant
      Who'd made his enlistment pure hell:
Steve wrote.

Even though Jed had the lower rank,
      And the task at hand had called for following orders,
Jed balked at the zeal with which the 'bub had barked
      The rebukes that questioned his steel,
            Questioned his honor:
Steve wrote.

Now, somewhere out there,
      Somewhere in the utter vastness,
            The utter darkness,
Jed aimed to track him down,
            Call him out,
                  Face him,
                        Reclaim his honor,
                  Show him,
            Best him,
Call it square:
       Steve wrote.


For Conversations With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
June 2, 2011