The Bar Room Brawler

Reputation earned from many a scrape
The bar room brawler always aware of his back
As he gravitated to stool back yes to wall
So none could surprise him from behind like before
All men did fear him, all wanted to dare

But few ever challenged him, just didn't dare
His eyes clothed in savage, quiet yet not
Fury and rage filled, seemed his lot
He sought for a lass of disposition of sweet
Yet none gave him a chance, to hard he did seem

He never started fights, yet they always found him
Lasting only an eye-blink whilst all stood amazed
For never did any see, the blow that he threw
'Twas like lightning quick striking, rainstorm in June
For speed and agility and grace were his name

No matter how long the night would last
The merriment ended, each night like the last
An army of two strutting up to his face
To determine if rep was weathered and fake
And so it went for long decades like that

When he walked through the door in the brightness of day
All men indeed nodded in bow, lasses smiled in the way
For despite scars amany, in his eyes was still light
A wink he that awakened lifted their soul, and passion of skirt high
The lasses sighed deeply when he entered in stroll

Friend of the timid enemy of bad men
Bullies scattered when he entered their midst
The bar room brawler so friendly and fair.
He moved in magic and odd countenance displayed
None knew his name, none dared even ask to this day

Yea, they came from far and wide
Each man of brawn hungry inside to collide with the
Legend so sweeping and long, yes they came one and all, young and old alike
To see gladiator move like a dancer in bright lite
Yea, breathless they were each time he stood tall

For his moves were a wondrous, magical most said
For in a matter of seconds the aggressor lie as dead
Both time and legend grew as he did, now covered in age
Yet the berry of numbness still enticed his rage
Yet, he drew nigh to the same, now on fifty year

The young men now excited, thinking their time had yes come
True he was slower than he was in his day
But experience did cover what youth had erased
His smile, looks and charm they were hungry to erase and undress
Though try as that may , his stool he still had

They say now, somewhere on the California coast , story does go
An old man sits a straddling a stool very old
Sunglasses now cover the eyes that once caused
A lifetime of trouble and fighting and brawls
Minds his own business, now much older in strength

But still some do try challenge him, his memory to erase
But you erase not a memory with lustful envy alone
For legends like reputations, are yea, etched in stone
They say he spoke nere again, yet some say,
When the light is just right, you can catch a wink behind the dark glasses they say

As a young lass walks by, or child in passes in the way,
Or bird in flight, some say they have seen
A clear tear in his eye, yet no man, girl nor women
To date has dared ever ask why, he sits alone still today
Awaiting one to as ask, yes, why the tear.

Yet none ever did, for fear I am told
They say he was the fastest, ever I'm told
Strength unimaginable, handsome and bold
Friend of the downward enemy to boastful braggarts bold
Tale goes, that none, ever saw his best unfold....

Rodney Evan Bohen