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THE OUTLAW
In the shadow of the canyon rim
The motionless stranger sat
Aware of every movement or sound
He sensed it like a mountain cat
This night he'd have no fire in camp
To shield from winter's breath
He'd learned the lesson of survival
Many times he'd cheated death
This man had never given mercy
He'd killed without regard
The life he'd led was filled with hate
His heart was cold and hard
He'd sensed the pursuers were not far behind
Not by sound, nor by sight
He'd readied himself on the rock overhang
He knew there'd be a fight
He'd always slipped away in the past
It'd be the same tonight
With low winter clouds now overhead
There would be no moonlight
He despised the persistence of these men
From a small border town
Where he'd robbed and burned the general store
And shot the store clerk down
He never thought they'd follow this far
He was almost to the river
They wouldn't follow if he crossed over
The anticipation made him quiver
A sound in the ravine just below
He'd been lost too deep in thought
He knew now they'd closed the distance
Did they think he could be caught?
Had they seen him on the high ridge
Or his hobbled horse below
Maybe they were just backtracking
In the lightly fallen snow
His answer came from a muzzle flash
One he never saw
He fell lifeless from the ledge above
The death of another outlaw
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