Westerlings

{A JD poem}

The west is full of young men
Old enough to run away from pasts unwanted
Young enough to dream of future fames

‘Go West, young man’ is all they ken
Some turn back due to difficulties unimagined
In a land that is far from tame.

And some persevere, despite the pain
Refusing to surrender their dreams of glory
Only to die unknown and unmourned.

A few, through luck or skill or maybe brains
Find mentors who walk them past vainglory
Teaching them to survive ‘til their legends are sown.