The Legacy Of Billy Joe
People come and people go.
All except for Billy Joe.
He kinda just hung around.
He liked what he had found.
Though she paid him no mind.
At least she was not unkind.
The days turned into months.
Then it happened all at once.
Someone had shot her down.
Turned her life upside down.
She was an emotional wreck.
Billy Joe rubbed her neck.
He was supportive and kind.
She was at the end of the line.
She had no idea where to go.
She had never felt so low.
Billy Joe was there to lift her up.
To help her dig out of this rut.
In time, she felt much better.
He was there in any weather.
Then she finally met another.
Let nothing tear it asunder.
But, in the end, that died too.
She was hurting as to what to do.
Here came Billy Joe to give support.
He had only good things to report.
He was there till she felt better.
She wrote the guy a ‘Dear John’ letter.
Then, came that terrible day.
Billy Joe was taken away.
It was a terrible accident.
She wondered where he went.
Then, she realized he was the one.
Always there through tears and fun.
It hit her like a ton of bricks.
Cut her to her very quick.
Oh, what will she do now?
Without Billy Joe to help somehow.
Then, she remembered what he said.
The night he tucked her into bed.
“Take the good with the bad.”
“Don’t walk away feeling sad.”
“Tomorrow will be another day.”
“There will always be a way.”
She will miss Billy Joe a lot.
He helped her with all she got.
She remembered all he said.
Tomorrow, she will be wed.
He said this day would come.
Billy, I wish you were the one.
——————R. W. Johnson—–(2016)