Th Hangin' (Ode to Rufus Wade)

The Hangin’  (Ode to Rufus Wade) ‘Twas 90 degrees in the shade the morn they hanged OLE Rufus Wade to rest already had been laid a pair killed with cold steel blade Left behind was the bloody knife that killed McDougal and his wife and on the day the town took Wade’s life they ended his lifelong struggle and strife For it was on that fateful night Wade and McDougal got in a fight because Mrs. Mc had not been polite calling Wade and idiot, he could not read or write So then in his self defense he fought back against their eloquence Was he truly what some called dense or just a victim of circumstance Orphaned at the age of four he used the streets as bed and floor ate garbage from the General store his needs the townsfolk did ignore the knife that was tossed of to the side It had killed McDougal and his bride was not present when Wade was tried for on it other fingerprints were spied a man in the shadows who saw the fight said to himself, this is not right so he took the dagger, held it tight and thrust it deep with all his might He had watched Wade walk away bloodied, bruised; he did not stay Wade never saw the next melee when the two the stranger with knife did slay From rope an innocent man did hang no prayers were said, no hymn was sang all was silent, as the church bell rang The fool was dead, the town was spared of the man, for whom no one cared © Copyright 2001 1st Poet Inc. William S. Dawes Written December 8th, 2001 © on Dec 08 2001 02:19 AM PST   17 • 0 • 9