Urban Cowboy

Urban Cowboy

On the streets he roams, looking for a home
Wide brimmed hat worn and flapping
And a ring for each finger to show where he’s been

He stares at me through the window
Do I remind him of someone from long ago
Does he remember that week a year ago
Smoking a cig on the park bench relaxed before the storm,
I catch him staring at me once more

I nod and he nods in return
Chivalry or memory
His scraggly gray hair lies just at his shoulders
Peering out under the hat
Short gray beard well kept for where he’s been

His eyes pierce mine and I have to look away
I don’t know what he’s thinking or what he feels
But I feel like if I kept my eyes locked I’d get lost in that dark soul
He played his music once, and has a cd
We got to listen to it at breakfast that day

Who are you and where have you been
Urban cowboy who calls the streets home
Who walks the new frontier
What do you think of us both being here
What brings us, old and young to watch for the break in the clouds, for the sun

If I went out, would you speak to me,
your eyes hardly leave mine
Urban Cowboy what’s on your mind
How did we get to this strange place and time?


copyright M. Markley 2010