the lady and the cowpoke - a fragment

you ride the range you man so strange would you like an apple or an o-range? don't pick up that cat, it's got the mange she was a good old kitty cat and did her duties with eclat but life has wrestled her to the mat now there is no more this in her that i'm glad you dropped by look at the sky my oh my how time does fly are you sure you don't want some tea? the gypsy made it especially for me despite its curious pungency it really contains no mystery poor man, you look pale let me tell you a tale once there were three princesses with scarlet, gold and sable tresses who always wore white satin dresses and by a witch were given three guesses as to which kingdoms they would rule after they had finished school and which emperors were the biggest fools in which to sink their claws so cruel a crimson cloud across the sky drew the golden princess's eye and with a sad and mournful sigh she sat on a rock and began to cry o sister, cried the scarlet maid what has made you so afraid? have all our secrets been betrayed? and all our rescuers waylaid? ....... the cowpoke listened to the lady's tale and smiled and nodded without fail out in the distance he heard a wail a leaf flew past the window -- next a gale? the conversation reached another stage the parrot looks so unhappy in his cage let's turn the page would you like to blow some gage?

song of the damned number 21

i am just a lonely moocher with no present past or future and the windows watch me well on the rainy street to hell and my brain begins to hum for a taste of opium and its incandescent streams of fervid fleeting dreams i would sell my ragged soul for the tenth part of a bowl there's nowhere that i wouldn't slink for just one more - one more drink all you mandarins and missionaries in your mansions museums and libraries will you know a brighter final fate than the stranger dragging past your gate?

i was the one

i was the one i was there i walked the dog i bounced the ball i fed the cat i sang the song i was there i saw it all happen when it was over they came and asked me because i was the one i spun the chamber i calmed the crowd i sharpened the stake i pointed at the bird and the dog ran down the street i walked up the stairs i rang the bell i sold the encyclopedia i sat on the front porch lily mae came out and offered me a glass of lemonade i accepted politely and looked out at the street the crowd was gone the dog ran under the light i drank the lemonade and gave the glass back to lily mae who waited patiently while mrs jones looked out the window but i was not worthy even though i was the one i howled at the moon i grew the fangs i defied the mob i wept in despair i walked the dog i bounced the ball i mixed the mint julep i begged for forgiveness all these things happened in a single night a night that never ended i was there i was the one