In the Canyon

Old gallows tall on the canyon floor

Red Tail soars high

Buzzard floats low

One waits for the body

The other waits for the soul

Cold wind wafts down the canyon wall

Purgatory River idles slowly past

No humanity to be found

And still they wait.

Listen!

A far off whistle of a train

The hiss of steam and turning wheels

The Ghost Train slows to a stop

There are no tracks

The cars are empty

Only a bent old man steps down

Gallows’ noose sways above

“Hang her!” he shouts

“Hang her!” but there’s no one to hear

The words reverberate off the canyon walls

Then quietness settles in.

Out of a cave in the side of the rock

An old woman slowly walks

Holding a dove in her right hand

The train silently disappears

Bent Old Man begins to shake

The gallows begins to sing

Of death, and love, and peace,

And mercy, and compassion

The woman now beautiful and young

Smiles silently at his face

“Forget it,” she says

“Let it go, let it pass”

Bent Old Man sighed

And begins to laugh

With his legs he started to dance

Youth took hold of his body and mind

He forgot what he came for

Eyes wide open he began to see

His daughter, and brothers, and sisters

And mother and father all singing together

Down through the canyon blows

Warmth of love and peace and harmony too!

Red Tail soars high

Buzzard floats low

One waits for the body

And waits, and waits, and waits

The other waits for the soul.

2010 © Dayvid Graybill