Fear is a Hidden Fence

[couchgrouch]

Fear is a Hidden FenceDark hat and a leather dusterhis shadow blackened the doorall the dart players scatteredwhen his bootheels drummed the floorthe barkeep kept a pistolnear the cheap cherry winebut that stranger's stare told himhe'd never reach it in timeand fear is a hidden fencethat traps a person's heartkeeps his dreams his life and meansin a hole cold and darkonly his soul can feelwhat he's up againstfilled with doubt he can't climb outcos fear is a hidden fencethe stranger grabbed a bottleand growled, "nice place you got hereI'll bet you bought it with cashback about seven years"then some gal flirted with himand she got warned not to staythough he smelled of rye and dangershe hung by him, anyway cos fear is a hidden fencethat traps a person's heartkeeps his dreams his life and meansin a hole cold and darkonly his soul can feelwhat he's up againstfilled with doubt he can't climb outcos fear is a hidden fencehe told that shaky barkeep"it's vengeance I came here forI know you ratted me outand took that lawman's rewardbut after watchin' you trembleI'll just kiss this gal and leavecos I'm fin'lly outta prisonbut cowards never get freeand fear is a hidden fencethat traps a person's heartkeeps his dreams his life and meansin a hole cold and darkonly his soul can feelwhat he's up againstfilled with doubt he can't climb outcos fear is a hidden fence"c)2006 Robert George