hey old man <br />shadow old man <br />where you hurrying off to <br />what’s that you carry on your back <br />you know you can’t go home <br />sky warned you <br />i see you took no heed <br />what is it you look to do old man <br />say something with your last breath <br />something they will not soon forget <br />they who once took you twice for dead <br />hang ‘em high boys <br />he's the fool’s slap of a fool’s back <br />hang ‘em high <br />for the hard times <br />hang ‘em high <br />for the last chance lost of an old dream <br />hang ‘em high <br />for the miracle lost in flight <br />hang ‘em high <br />for the mute figure crossing the shadow of the artist’s fist <br />hang ‘em high boys <br />for the old widow the young war bride would become <br />hang ‘em high <br />he is the shadow in the trusted lie <br />old man <br />anybody can be the inglorious howling at 3 a.m. <br />not everybody gets to go home<br /><br />paul bamberger<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/aa-a-cautionary-tale/
