Them’s Fightin’ Words
written by: Robin Harvey
@RobinharveyL
Tell me why, my tin star, lover guy
we awake to clear and blessed dawns
skin-to-skin with the safety on
and you kiss me, hard.
As we tumble bullet-free through fevered musk
your breath burns our blistering bullshit crisp
and the milkweed wisps of last night’s railings are forgotten
dust in the wind.
Until my touch sparks a revenant
and once again I’m facing down tombstone eyes deep as the grave
gunning for me to start another round.
We’re back in the loop
it’s high noon at the “we’re-not-OK Corral”
with Annie Oakley and Wild Bill
locked and loaded for another go-round.
Enough with the macho swagger.
Go on, take your cheap shots,
your pot-shots,
your please-take-it-back shots.
Paint a bull’s eye on my heart
and fire off them fightin’ words
hit the mark and break me apart.
Dress me up in her finery
swing me from that hanging tree
you’ve strung up in her memory.
But maybe, cowboy, I’ll roll like a tumbleweed happy to dance on your grave.
So, before you fire another round
check your aim and line up your sites, gunslinger.
Cause I’ve got a Bowie knife
and a Colt 45
with her name etched on every bullet.
I’ll cut her down to size,
face down all six-foot-four of you
bury that woman in your churlish blues
and see her six feet under.
Then dead or alive
all you’ll see is me.
I will be the wanted one
with my face, my name
posted in black and white
on our bedroom wall.
- Them’s Fightin’ Words - January 31, 2023
