Adrian Henri

10 April 1932 - 20 December 2000 / Birkenhead, Cheshire

Wild West Poems

Noon

2 tall gunmen walking slowly towards each other down Mathew St.

And then he grabbed her (for Leiber/Stoller and the Coasters)
And then
He tied her up
And then
He lit the fuse to the dynamite
And then
And then
AND THEN
ALONG CAME JONES . .

William H. Bonney alias Billy the Kid hitches his horse to a parking meter strides through the swing doors into Yates Wine Lodge. Barmaids slowly back away from the counter. Drunks rush out into Charlotte Street. He drinks a glass of Aussie White and strides out, silent as he came.

POEM FOR BLACK BART TO LEAVE BEHIND ON A STAGE COACH

I hope you ladies ain't afraid Of the wicked man who made this raid But I'm like nature quick and cruel Believe me, gals, I need them jewels.

The Daltons riding down Church Street/Bullets ricochet off street signs/windows full of cardboard Walkers bottles shatter/Bob Grat Emmett thunder across traffic lights at red/hoof beats die away clattering down Lord Street.
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