Long Gone

She always wanted to ride off into the sunset
just like the cowboy hero
She wanted to kiss his brow and gallop away
leaving him like they did the ladies
She wanted to be gone
real-real gone

That day as she rode away from me
I watched as the sun set behind the mountains
The purple and pink hues as twilight fell
The prarie grass rustling in the breeze
She was gone
real-real gone

I picketed my horse close by
gathered wood to start a fire
I cooked up some coffee and beans
As I ate I heard the rustling of the breeze
and the stars were falling overhead
I felt her presence surround me

I lie back against my saddle and blanket
thinking of this lady so brave and free
The moon arose and begin its ascent
The silver light lit up my night
and I stared into the fire
thinking of her beautiful smile

The moon had made its apex
when I begin to tire
I lie down upon the grass
with my saddle and blanket as a pillow
The fire flickered as the embers died
I pulled the blanket of stars over me

The next morning as the day dawned
I heard my horse talking to me
He pawed the ground and nodded his head
I got up and stirred a bit as the sunrise glowed
She was gone
real-real gone

I wiped the dew (or was it tears) from my face
I saddled up and heard a noise in the trees
My heart skipped a beat or two
My horse held its head up high
I thought about the love we shared
and wondered, Would she be long gone?

I rode towards the ranch
and looked back a time or two
The endless prarie stood before me
Her laughter echoed in my memory
and the desert bloom smiled at me
The sun was hot and the breeze cool

I saw a shadow and heard a giggle
I knew she whispered my name in the wind
The birds sang as the trees rustled a love song
I thought she’ll return to me
I loved her so and unlike the story of lost love
I knew she wouldn’t be gone long

©Dale CJ Clark