The Man in Black

Goldfinch60



He sat on his stool,

Guitar in hand,

Dressed in black.

This man who had so much

To tell us;

But was misunderstood

By many.

 

He Walked the Line

Straight to Folsom Prison,

But escaped and found himself

Surrounded by a Ring of Fire;

Until those Ghost Riders in the Sky

Pulled him back to Jackson

Where his love for June,

Gave him the Peace in the Valley,

That he was seeking.

 

Starkville City Jail held him overnight;

The crime was picking flowers!

But when released he drove away

In the car he had built One Piece at a Time.

This Boy Named Sue

Drove into San Quentin,

Where the inmates showed him

A Sea of Heartbreak,

And that he wasn’t a Wanted Man.

 

The Bitter Tears that were shed

Over the Vanishing race;

But will survive

As Long as the Grass Shall Grow,

And Drums will beat out to banish

Apache Tears.

 

This man, dressed in black

To remind all those in their lightening cars

And fancy clothes

Of the others that were held back.

 

At the end he walked the Streets of Laredo

Picking up a Tear Stained Letter.

He was Hurt, but did not see Sam Hall

Singing Danny Boy.

As he walked the Bridge Over Those Troubled Waters

To Give That Letter to Rose

He Hung His Head, as In his Life

He was such a Desperado.

But He had his Own Personal Jesus.

Without June he was

So Lonesome that He Could Cry.

The First Time Ever he Saw Her Face

The Man Came Around and knew,

That they would Meet Again.

  • Author: Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (Online Online)
  • Published: May 30th, 2018 01:01
  • Comment from author about the poem: I know that Brian talks of Johnny Cash so this is for him. I wrote it a few years ago. Johnny Cash died September 12th 2003 – four months after June Carter, his wife of 35 years. The last stanza of this poem makes reference to all the songs in his last recorded album American 1V: The Man Comes Around (popularly known as Hurt)
  • Category: Reflection
  • Views: 27
  • Users favorite of this poem: Laura🌻
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Comments +

Comments4

  • orchidee

    A fine write cleverly put together Gold. Meanwhile two men in white (coats) have come to collect me. Dunno why - I must have sung! lol.

    • Goldfinch60

      Make sure the room they put you is is both padded and sound-proofed!

      • orchidee

        They will say 'Hooray' cos no-one will hear me sing then!

      • Michael Edwards

        So well put together Andy - clever stuff.

        • Goldfinch60

          Thank you Michael, most kind.

        • BRIAN & ANGELA

          Thanks for this ANDY ~ For me JC is the ultimate Poet and Balladeer ! Misunderstood because for most he was too deep to understand. A total Man Body ~ Mind ~ Spirit and this is well expressed in his Poetry & Songs. Johnny was forged in the white hot furnace of the mid 20th C and there will never be his like again a perfect blend of SAINT & SINNER melded with the infinite LOVE of June Carter and a voice so full of pathos it reached your SOUL ~ Thanks for carin' and postin' a very clever Poem ~ BRIAN !

          • Goldfinch60

            He is one of mine and Joyce’s favourites, a caring man who never loses his faith.

          • Laura🌻

            Andy,
            Johnny Cash...
            A favorite of mine!

            Thank you for a super write and choice of video! I have to admit that I found it a bit sad, BUT VERY POWERFUL!

            ~Laura~

            • Goldfinch60

              Thank you Laura. Yes that video is very powerful.



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