Jed: W A N T E D , Alive, Or Dead …. ["Cowboy Movie" Wanted Poster; Criminal Behavior; Psychology; Almost Long, But Worth Reading] Poem by Bri Edwards

In the "Old West", a century and a half ago ….
one might not live, if, with a gun …., one was too slow.
At least that's what "Western" movies taught me as a kid,
A N D, from such things, this land still is not rid!

Still, when I was younger, "they" had "W A N T E D" signs,
advertising people who were wanted by police for crimes.
It was in post offices that I saw the ‘posters' displayed.
Sometimes a reward for "information" was offered to be paid.

And then Television got into the apprehension act,
and the T V show "America's Most Wanted" caught some in fact.
But, in movies, it was not "Information Wanted" that posters read,
but, in tall, B O L D letters: "W A N T E D: A L I V E - O R - D E A D".
[followed by a name and sometimes a picture of the ‘bad guy']

One such poster was for a critter named Jed.
For him, the posters even said "W A N T E D"… in bright red.
Yes, Jed was an "outlaw" of uncommonly-cruel deeds.
Faced with Jed and his gun, many of the bravest men peed….
in their pant A N D "cowboy boots".

Jed reached age twenty-nine before he met his end.
But first, many, to their early graves, Jed did send.
And it wasn't just killing Jed was widely known for.
Yes, Jed was a snake, and he was rotten to the core.

If he was riding along and his horse came up lame,
Jed would steal another. To him it was all a game.
Some said Jed had been raised wrong ….by a drunken pair.
In any case, about others' comforts, Jed just didn't care.
[O R at least he didn't seem to]

With his six-shooters Jed was fast on the draw,
but he would also ambush and kill men who never saw ….
him.
Yes, he was ruthless, a liar, a cheat, and all-around-bad!
Many a widow he made, leaving a trail so sad.

Sometimes he'd not stop at horse theft and killing,
but also kidnapped women, as they cried and kicked, unwilling.
But one thing about Jed: he N E V E R harmed a woman or kid.
[Was there something ‘not-so-bad' …… that "bad Jed" hid? ]

Finally, one late frosty Montana eve,
Jed's luck ran out. He had no more aces up his sleeve.
He'd had a little too much to drink A N D was getting ‘old',
and the son of one of his victims was now big and bold.

The young man had seen Jed ….ride into town,
and he'd sworn to shoot his Pa's killer down.
And that's what happened that eve, sure enough.
With six lead bullets, the kid, Jed's cruel life, did snuff …..
out.

(October 1, 2015)