10 Minutes To 1am (Leather & Lace ~ The Reunion) Poem by Poison 9901

10 minutes till 1: 00 am
(Leather & Lace ~ The Reunion)

I rode into town, tired and thirsty from the trail
Tippin my hat to the marshal, standing in front of the jail
I slowly rode through town, making my way to the local saloon
Following the sounds of the piano’s hammers, an all to familiar tune

Boots echoed on the hollow board walk as I hitched my horse to the rail
Plan on stay’n long mister, asked the marshal, who had followed me from in front of the jail
Just looking for a drink and a place to rest my head
I ain’t looking for no trouble marshal, just a drink, and a bed

We’re a peaceful town mister; I’d like to keep it that way
No problem marshal, I’ll be leaven come light of day
I turned from my horse, and looked him square in the eyes
His face lit up shock, as if he’d seen a ghost or maybe been surprised

He took a step closer, William, is it really you, he managed to get out
I turned to look at the rising moon, and back to the marshal face, now consumed with doubt
I stepped upon the boardwalk to the saloon, and its sawdust covered floors
Slowly making my way, I entered its double swinging doors

The piano player stopped his hammering, of Ole Suzanna
As I wiped the dust from around my neck with an even dustier bandanna
I eased up to the bar, why, you could have heard a pen dropp in that place
Whiskey I ordered, from the barkeep, with the same stunned look upon his face

Yes sir he said, reaching behind the bar for a bottle and glass
I’ll be need’n a room as well, for the night was getting late and on the bath, I’d pass
Familiar boots echoed from outside the saloon’s swinging doors
It was the marshal and the twins, a double barreled 10ga that he adored

Whispers soon turned to chatter, as the piano player began hammering out his tune
The marshal had drug up a chair in the corner, keeping a vigil watch upon the saloon
“What about that room” as I finished my drink placing the glass back on the bar
He handed me a key, and pointed up the stairs, last room on the left, it’s the one with the star

Climbing the stairs, I felt as if every eye in the saloon was watching me
I stopped about half way up, turn to say something, and thought, naw, I’d just let it be
As I made my way down the hall, sounds of muffled voices and laughter slipped from behind each door
My boots announced my presence, dull echoes on the hard wood floors

I placed the key in the lock, and noticed just below the star, a name had been erased
As best as I could make out, the roughly carved letters announced the name of “Grace”
I locked the door behind me, drew the shades together, as I looked about the room
The faint scent of lilacs filled the room as I thought to myself, it to, was my favorite perfume

I looked at all the pictures, placed neatly on the wall
My mind began to wonder, how you wound up a singer, in such a remote dancehall
News clippings hung by the pictures, which told of your untimely death
Of how you died, professing your love to William, with your final dying breath

The clippings told of William as well, and of his tragic past
And of how he dealt out justice, with hands that were lighting fast
They told of two young lovers, gunned down in the streets that day
And of the price of love, each one with their lives did pay

The final clipping was a eulogy, one that told of “Leather & Lace”
And of a love so strong and powerful, not even Death could take its place
It told of how the Marshal was saved, by the presence of William’s ghost
As he stood before him, protecting him, when he needed him the most

The clipping told of how the town folk buried them together, high upon the hill
And sometimes late at night, you can still hear Grace singing harmony with the whippoorwills
William still comes around, when the Marshal needs an extra gun
See, the thing that nobody knew, was that William, was the Marshal’s son

I slipped off my boots, and placed them neatly beside the bed
Took off my hat, unstrapped my 45’s, and hung them on the bedpost by my head
I slowly unbuttoned my shirt, and removed it, reveling a scar upon my back
A reminder given to me in another time, from a coward’s lowly attack

As I lay back in the bed, I was surprised to find it was made of feathers and down
I slowly drifted off to sleep; serenaded by the piano’s muffled sounds
I was awaken around midnight, by singing, a sweeter sound I had never heard
Your voice was as soothing as a nightingale, every note and every word

You were sitting at the vanity, slowly brushing your long black hair
As you sang your song softly, I simply sat in bed and stared
Maybe it was the barkeeper, who had mistakenly given you a key
When I noticed in the vanity’s mirror, their was no reflection, of either you or me

I couldn’t believe my eyes, is it really you, I asked, are you the ghost Grace
And you turned and looked me in my eyes, and replied, yes my love, I am your Lace
I slowly rose to my feet, took you in my arms, and felt your cold embrace
As the key turn in the lock, as the door swung open, we disappeared without a trace

~~~Poison~~~