Ponyboy’s Poem

Inspired by S.E. Hinton’s book “The Outsiders”

My brothers are at odds with each other
But I wouldn’t trade them out for anyone
I’m grateful for greasers who are my family
I’m proud of Tulsa, the city I’m from

But my pride was tarnished by the Socs
It was foolish of me to walk alone
I should have known they’d hurt me
I always thought I could hold my own

Those guys were in that Mustang
It was in the middle of the day
They pulled up right beside me
Wasn’t much I could do or say

And my best friend, Johnny Cade
Was ganged up in the same way
We’re targets for their aggression
When they’re drunk and ready to play

My parents were in their car at sunset
When a train hit them on the track
It was hell to think they were gone
They weren’t ever gonna come back

Darry got control but he’s not our Dad
Soda dropped out, got a job pumpin’ gas
They say I’ve gotta graduate from school
But I’m failing everything but one class

I’ll write ‘bout the Socs in that Mustang
That afternoon they beat me til I bled
And they night tried to kill me and Johnny
Johnny stabbed Bob, now Bob’s dead

We went to get help from our buddy Dally
He told us where we could lay our heads
Johnny bleached and cut my platinum hair
“Gone With the Wind” was the book I read

We were there for a week then came Dally
He told us we were wanted by the court
And he took us to the DQ for sandwiches
But then our hideout plan was cut short

A bus full of kids were on a field trip there
At the old abandoned church where we hid
And Dally must have dropped a cigarette
We had to save their lives, that’s what we did

Johnny got burned real bad, so did Dally
My brothers came and we hugged
Darry and Soda were happy to see me
They said Johnny was in pain ‘n drugged

The newspaper called us three heroes
But I’m the only one who’s now alive
Dally was killed in a shootout outside
Johnny didn’t have the will to survive

And so I sit here at my desk at our home
I’ll write about Cherry Valance too
She’ll read it and understand me better
But I know what she said to me was true

She’d see me in the halls and say nothing
Even with all the conversations we’ve had
At least we’ll always share the same sunset
Meanwhile I’ll work to be a high school grad

December 15, 2020

Nashville, Tennessee

He was out on a Tuesday
In his Chevy getting drunk
off a twenty four pack
of bottled Budweiser Lite
Thinkin’ ‘bout the girl
he fell in love with
When they were sixteen
And everythin’ was alright

He was wonderin’ what she
was up to as he hadn’t seen
her since they parked out
by the lake one Friday night
And she said it wasn’t
Workin’ out between them
But he was too heartbroken
To put up any kind of fight

He just said he was sorry
She said it’s not you it’s me
He sat there so confused
He thought how could this be
She drove him back home
He didn’t tell his family
She moved on from him
To Nashville, Tennessee

She was out on a Thursday
On a park bench with a friend
Sharing coffee and stories ‘bout
boys who didn’t have a clue
She brought up that moment
When she tested a boy’s truth
By telling him she was leavin’
Just to see what he would do

He just said he was sorry
She said it’s not you it’s me
He sat there so confused
He thought how could this be
She drove him back home
Didn’t tell her family, then
got news they were movin’
To Nashville, Tennessee

They both had been dreamin’
What it would’ve been like
If he ended up as her husband
And she’d become his wife

But there’s a twist in the story
She looked him up on Facebook
Then sent him a friend request
and he didn’t friend him back
Cause on the way home
After bingin’ on cheap beer
He ran through a stop light,
killin’ a man wearin’ a knapsack

In court he said he was sorry
To the judge and his attorney
He sat there so void and empty
Charged for murder, unintentionally
And as he sat there in prison
One day he got a letter from her
Said she was moving back home
From Nashville, Tennessee

With an orphan child of a lady
Gunned down by the man he killed
Before he took the Amtrak up
From Nashville, Tennessee
Seven years later in a prairie
An ex-prisoner married my mother,
The man who ran into my father
Who was from Nashville, Tennessee

It seems like a hell of a nightmare
But things turned out so perfectly
Oh, God knew what he was doin’
I’ve just earned my Law Degree
I’m workin’ for a Record Label
Time flew like a seagull over a sea
I sure am proud of my hometown
Nashville, Tennessee –

Oh, now I’ll never really leave
Music City, I’ll give my all to thee
My boyhood home, Nashville, Tennessee

December 7, 2020

Revolving Door of Her Heart

I never knew what hit me
We used to get along so well
But now I’m stuck in here
And it sure feels like hell
Confused like I’m on Jeopardy
I feel like I’m gonna win
Then she falls to temptation
It’s a circle game of sin

Stuck, oh I am stuck
In the revolving door of her heart
It’s a big ol’ mess we’re in
We’re together yet so apart
I’ll forgive her every single time
Even though it’s not that smart
I’m stuck, oh I’m stuck
In the revolving door of her heart

She goes out down on the Row
And she drinks like a thirsty fish
It’s like she becomes a genie
Who’ll grant them a naughty wish
Then she’s back in our bedroom
And she snuggles up to me
I can’t take much more of this
Oh it’s time to set this girl free

Stuck, oh I am stuck
In the revolving door of her heart
It’s a big ol’ mess we’re in
We’re together yet so apart
I forgive her every single time
Even though it’s not that smart
I’m stuck, oh I’m stuck
In the revolving door of her heart

She says she can’t control it
This attention from other men
She says she’ll stay on the wagon
Then she falls right off again

She’s a sucker for sexy cowboys
And I know what I should do
I should just pack my up my truck
And tell that hussy I’m through
But I love that woman so much
Even though she’s the town tramp
I just can’t see her bottoming out
Endin’ up under a corner street lamp

Stuck, oh I am stuck
In the revolving door of her heart
It’s a big ol’ mess we’re in
We’re together yet so apart
I’ll forgive her every single night
Even though it’s not that smart
Guess I’ll stay stuck, oh so stuck
In the revolving door of her heart

Guess I’ll stay stuck, so so stuck
In the revolving door of her heart

December 5, 2020

Amesti Angel

We met back in High School
She was in Madrigal and Choir
She sang like no one’s business
She had a certain special fire

But she loved to ride horses
At her parents’ ranch for hours
Bought her a rose on Valentines Day
But she never liked gettin’ flowers

She liked goin’ out to the Seacliff beach
She liked goin’ to drive-in picture shows
I’d see her with her group of friends
We never dated but that’s how it goes
She had this big ol’ heart for us all
And she never stopped supporting me
My special and sweet Amesti Angel
Who wanted me to be what I wanted to be

As the college years rushed by
She got her degree and met a man
They found a simple kind of love and
They made the most of our God’s plan

They had a full house of daughters
And a life they carefully designed
Gone was that teenaged crazy girl
Who I never got to wine and dine

But I’d go out to the Seacliff Beach
I’d go to the drive-in picture shows
I’d see her out with her group of friends
We never dated but that’s how it goes
She had this big o’ heart for us all
She was my pal through thick and thin
My special & sweet Amesti Angel
Who I know I’ll visit again and again

I see her life on Instagram now
And I know she’s happier there
With her kids & handsome husband
Goin’ ev’ry year to the County Fair

Now I’m no longer goin’ to Seacliff Beach
Or any of those drive-in picture shows
And all of our friends have scattered
We’re living our lives, that’s how it goes
She still keeps in touch with everyone
With really funny Facebook updates
Our special & sweet Amesti Angel
Who cheered us on to do our dream
Our sweet Amesti Angel
Cool as Driscoll’s strawberries & cream

December 3, 2020

I’m Big on You

I’m big on watchin’ NASCAR
I’m big on my tractor too
I’m big on sandlot baseball
And I’m big on you
I’m big on fishin’ holes
I’m big on barbecue
I’m big on backyard football
And I’m big on you

I’m big on brews after work
I’m big on real slow dances
I’m big on takin’ big chances
Big on doin’ the right thing
I’m big on mem’ries we’re makin’
How my hands are now shakin’
I hope you’re big on me enough
to wear this big ol’ diamond ring

I’m big on your laughter
I’m big on their smiles
As you walk into the room
I’m big your cuddles
I’m big on your snuggles
And your favorite perfume
I’m big on your walk
And that way you talk
I swear it melts my heart
I’m big on your jokes
I’m big on your folks
How you’re so damn smart

Most of all I’m big on
Those big blue eyes ‘n
I’ll protect us til all
the rivers run dry
You’re like big fireworks
On the Fourth of July
My oh my

I’m big on your laughter
I’m big on their smiles
As you walk into the room
I’m big your cuddles
I’m big on your snuggles
And your favorite perfume
I’m big on your walk
And that way you talk
I swear it melts my heart
I’m big on your jokes
I’m big on your folks
How you’re so damn smart

I’m big on mem’ries we’re makin’
How my hands are now shakin’
I hope you’re big on me enough
to wear this big ol’ diamond ring

You’re my big dream
That keeps comin’ true
Are you big on me
Like I’m big on you

I wanna live years
I know I won’t ever regret
All I wanna be is the one
Who will love you all my life
Baby, will you be my wife?
Will you be my wife?
Will you be my wife?

December 2, 2020

Warm and Neighborly Woman

We met at the Farmer’s Market, she was sellin’ sweet corn by the pound
 And I was quite surprised by her sincere smile I accidentally found
 Her lips were like apples from trees I’d pick from when I was young
 I just could not believe my eyes, she was a love song yet to be sung

 She was a warm and neighborly woman who lived outside of my town
 I guess she hadn’t found a cowboy who was willing to settle down
 And I don’t know how I found the courage to ask her out on a date
 She said she’d love to as long as we weren’t out too late

 So after the Farmer’s Market closed down we went to a local bar
 She had on jeans and a gingham blouse & looked like a Country star
 Her eyes were kind as she looked at me, she was funny and wise
 As she shared a little about her lifestyle and her problems with guys

 She was a warm and neighborly woman who didn’t want to be alone
 I guess nobody found in her what I did, yet she was not unknown
 I asked her if I could get her number and she wrote it on my hand
 And we talked for an hour as we listened to a lively Bluegrass band

 I called her the next mornin’ she just got in from feedin’ her hogs
 She told me to call her later, she was just about to bathe her dogs
 So I waited a couple hours and she said yes to going out that night
 She let me know she was famished and would love to go have a bite

 She was a warm and neighborly woman but she also had a wild side
 Once she got to drinkin’ and dancin’ man she was like a carnival ride
 I asked her if she’d consider bein’ my girlfriend and she said, “Okay!”
 And we’ve been together ever since that Summer Farmer’s Market day

 Oh, we’ve been together ever since that Summer Farmer’s Market day.

 December 1, 2020

That Cowboy’s Rare

You’ve come to me with troubles
You’re confiding what’s wrong
You’re desperate for guidance
To help you both get along
Girl, I look at you tonight
And what you’ve got is real
I’m gonna tell ya right now
Exactly how I deeply feel

If he forgives you for cussin’ him out
In front of all his friends a lot
And at the end of the day
He still says you’re smokin’ hot
And he shares his drinks with you
You pass gas but he don’t care
That’s the good stuff right there
That cowboy’s rare
Oh, that cowboy’s rare

I’m sure you’re disappointed
That I didn’t agree with you
I didn’t take your side tonight
I just spoke the honest truth
Girl, I think you better call him
Tell him to come right down
We’ll all have a laugh about it
Over this here bottle of Crown

See,
If he forgives you for cussin’ him out
In front of all his friends a lot
And at the end of the day
He still says you’re smokin’ hot
And he shares his drinks with you
You pass gas but he don’t care
That’s the good stuff right there
That cowboy’s rare
Oh, that cowboy’s rare

If he doesn’t pee on the toilet seat
And puts it down for you every time
Then you’ve got quite the catch, babe
You should pardon him for any crime
When he gets here to the bar
If he loves you with all his heart
And if he raves about you non-stop
Then you shouldn’t split apart

If he forgives you for cussin’ him out
In front of all his friends a lot
And at the end of the day
He still says you’re smokin’ hot
And he shares his drinks with you
You pass gas but he don’t care
That’s the good stuff right there
That cowboy’s rare
Oh, that cowboy’s rare

That cowboy’s rare
Oh, that’s cowboy’s rare

November 25, 2020

Better Plans

I wanted it so bad
Would’ve sold my soul
To make it big
In Pop or Rock n Roll
So I kept it up
With a stronger will
I pushed too much
I couldn’t wait until

The lights were centered on me
Singin’ all my songs for the crowd
And I could finally get noticed
And my parents would be proud
Then I crashed and burned
I couldn’t be what I wanted to be
But little did I know back in the day
God had better plans for me

I drove back home
Was welcomed back & told
I’d have to find work
Get my life under control
Wrote, wrote & wrote
With a buddy of mine
Things only got worse
But I thought I was fine

The lights would center on us
As we sang songs for everyone
And we’d finally get noticed
We were gonna have lots of fun
But we crashed and burned
We couldn’t be what we wanted to be
But little did I know back in the day
God had better plans for me

It was clear what I had to do
I had to focus on my family
So I did but I still felt empty
‘Cause I had something
No one else could steal
It was truth, it was real
And it was totally free
God’s better plans for me

While it’s not what I expected
I can’t help having pride inside
Cause I didn’t get so down
That I’d commit suicide
Instead He heard my prayers
Today, I am just grateful to be
Cause I know God
Yeah I know God
Had better plans for you and me
God had better plans for you and me.

November 19, 2020

Very Much

I’m very much into your eyes
How they sparkle in the moonlight
I’m very much into your hair
It’s glowing and flowing tonight
I’m very much into your smile
and your teeth so pearly white
and I’m very much into your style
You could end up being my Miss Right

I’m very much into your hands
The touch of them soothes my soul
I’m very much into the way
you can keep it all under control
I’m very much into your laughter
as we take an afternoon stroll
I wonder if we’ll spend ever after
loving each other and feeling whole

But enough of what I feel
I want to know your inner you
Are you ready to take a chance?
Do you feel the same way I do?
Is this in vain, or is this fate?
Is it the start of a dream come true?
In our case, was love not too late?
Could you see what we could be, too?

I’m very much into this courtship
and seeing where this thing goes
I’m very much into your spirit
Your scent is the essence of a rose
I’m very much into all you are
and everything you’ll ever be
but if, and only if, my dear,
You’re very much into me

Yes, if, and only if, my dear,
You’re very much into me

November 16, 2020