poetry
Jimmy Counts and K.B. Whitley
A Hero Came Home Today
A hero came home today
He died on some distant shore
Fighting for freedom and the dream
Maybe we won’t have to fight anymore
He seemed so very young
And could have been somewhere having fun
But when the battle was joined
He went to get the job done
I don’t know his race or religion
And about that I just don’t care
Cause he went to free an oppressed people
Who were living in tyranny and despair
I have little patience for protestors
Though your right to protest is why he fights
And to make sure that some tyrant
Doesn’t come and take all your rights
There were hundreds of school kids with flags
Lining the street to the cemetery there
Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters
And a grizzled old veteran in a wheelchair
Cause if you’re a true American
And you believe in freedom and right
Then you’ll support the ones
Who are in the midst of freedom’s fight
He believed in what he was doing
And he might have taken other tours
But he gave up his life
To make sure you can keep yours
And I know one thing for certain
my world is a better place to stay
Cause of heroes still over there
And the one that came home today
Jimmy Counts
Just Along for the Ride
I’ve got this real good buddy
I guess when he started he was playin’
But I’m just along for the ride
Was what he was always sayin’.
When we went to gather the back forty
The boss asked if he would ride the fence line
He said I’m just along for the ride
So where ever you want me will be fine.
And we were headed to get a cold one
I said you wanna go to a bar that’s near
He said I’m just along for the ride
I’ll go anywhere there’s cold beer.
And we were headed into town
Where do we eat I wanted to know
He said I’m just along for the ride
So I’ll eat where ever you go.
Well he and I were lookin’ for strays
I was ridin’ a bronc that was green
And somethin’ happened that day
Made me see what his sayin’ might mean.
Now my bronc was a pretty good bucker
And on that day he really blew up
And when he got me bucked off
One foot was hung in the stirrup.
My buddy yelled what you doin’
As I hung there by his side
I said I ain’t doin’ a thing
I’m just along for the ride.
Jimmy Counts
10
Cenizo
First Quarter 2018