Hign noon at the OK Corral

distant memories can't
hurt you any more
won't bite back
they don't exist anymore
if you don't tell
your new friends

do they need to know
about the shop lifting conviction
the joy riding and burnt out cars
the 6 months in prison
the affair and the child you never
see

do they need to need to know about
drunken nights
being sick on the trains
waking up on a sodden mattress
in an earls court garden

do they need to know
about everything
a warts and all story

they were another you
someone who died years ago
or his hidden in a secret
room
in the attic or basement

but can that room be locked

but are the memories chasing you
like a posse in a western
leaving you no where to
run
trapped in a box canyon

do you have to turn to
face those demons
High noon at the OK Corral

maybe you can write your life
story like pop stars or foorballers
do at 22

or wait until you're safely in the
retirement cottage
and can take those old
diaries out of dusty boxes
and read about that other you
the one that died