The Drifter
One summer day he drifted into town.
His time was spent just roaming around.
He would go from one job to another.
Never had a dad. Never had a mother.
Raised in an orphanage, I’ve been told.
Somewhere up north where it is cold.
He didn’t say much. Kinda quiet & shy.
If he spoke at all, he just said hi.
He got a job working in a store.
All he owned was the clothes that he wore.
He worked long hours to earn his pay.
It didn’t leave him much time to play.
Then one day a woman came in.
Young, good looking, and real trim.
He smiled & said “Can I help you mamm?”
She smiled & said “You sure can”
It seemed that she needed some shoes.
She had legs that would make front page news.
He blushed as he helped her try on a pair.
Then she ran her fingers through his hair.
She said “Oh, I’m sorry to be so bold”.
“Usually people just call me cold”
“But, you remind me of my brother so much”
“I couldn’t help it, I had to touch”.
“See, he was killed last year in Iraq”.
“I want so much to bring him back”.
“That’s so sad it breaks my heart”
He said, as he shuddered & fell apart.
“That’s so kind. Don’t be embarrassed”.
“Usually people say I could care less”
“Because I am quiet & shy”
“But, somehow you have changed this guy”.
They started talking. It lasted for hours.
Before she left he gave her flowers.
They started dating. He settled down.
Soon they were seen all over town.
In time they married and had a child.
He ran for mayor. Now, that was wild.
His platform was: I WILL STICK AROUND.
I WAS A DRIFTER TILL I HIT THIS TOWN.
People liked his style. They voted for him.
The best mayor they ever voted in.
When asked why he stayed in this place?
He looked at his wife with a smile on his face.
I remind her of her brother, was all he said.
——————————————————-R.W. Johnson—-(2011)