The Ballad of Lem and Josie
By C. Jyl Parker
Lemuel Brown and Josephine
Left their home in Tennessee.
They sought their fortune in the west
In the hills by the peaceful sea.
They looked for gold off in the west
Traveling by prairie schooner.
Much later than the forty-nines
But sooner than the Sooners.
In Oklahoma they broke down
For no apparent reason.
Said Lem, “We’ll just stay here ‘til spring
And look for gold next season.”
They looked for gold off in the west
Traveling by prairie schooner.
Much later than the forty-nines
But sooner than the Sooners.
The year turned into two, then ten.
The wagon just stayed broken.
But the dream lived on, in their hearts
If only as a token.
They looked for gold off in the west
Traveling by prairie schooner.
Much later than the forty-nines
But sooner than the Sooners.
Their kids were grown and far away
When the ‘niners headed eastward.
“There’s no more gold in them thar hills.
For now, we have been bested.”
They looked for gold off in the west
Traveling by prairie schooner.
Much later than the forty-nines
But sooner than the Sooners.
Josie and Lem looked o’er their fields
And knew they wouldn’t be roaming.
The gold for which they’d sought so long
Was here in Oklahoma.
They looked for gold off in the west
Traveling by prairie schooner.
Much later than the forty-nines
But sooner than the Sooners.
About the Creator
C Jyl Parker
Starting from the fairy stories and poems of childhood, I've always had an interest in the fantasy, adventure and science fiction worlds. Although I've done a lot of writing over the years, I've published only a few short stories and poems.
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Comments (1)
I loved the playful rhyme, combined with historical knowledge! Well done. And so catchy, its echoing in my head.