She Whispered to Me

She Whispered to Me

Another sleepless night… I packed at morning light

The high desert… Was calling me

Once again it was time… To get baptized

In the texture and history… Of a lonesome valley

I knew the desert was ready… To share a story

I found it… Hidden behind a leaning barn

A 56 ford flatbed… Resting in a nest

Of tangled barbwire… Sagebrush… And tumble weeds

She whispered to me…Begged me please

Fix me… Use me… Paint me… Drive me… I’m ready to be freed

From my prison of rust… Please… Listen to me

I’m ready… To have my job back

I’m willing… To haul the hay stack… I’ll help you… Feed the colts and cattle

Load me… With fence posts… I’ll help you… Irrigate the meadow

I’m ready… To go to town… While you two step and drink

I’ll wait patiently… In the parking lot… I’ll listen to country music

Maybe we can watch drunks… Fight in the moonlight

Outside the Saddle Sore Bar and Grill… Then I’ll take you to the hills

To watch the show… While you steam up the windows… At a midnight rodeo

I’ll let you sit on the flat bed… Drink beer and talk bull

I’m ready… To get stuck… In snow drifts… On Pilot Peak

We can cross the floodwater of Trout Creek

These are the things… She whispered to me

Strange… As I touched and look closer… I found a single bullet hole

In the driver’s side door… I wondered…What for

Had the old truck… Been put out of it misery

From blowing blue smoke… Leaking everything

Had it been shot… Like a lame old gelding

Left to become… Bones… Dust… Rust

I told myself… Cowboys don’t cry… But then

…She whispered to me…

Tears welled up in my eyes… Then rolled down my checks

As that old truck begged me

please… please… please