Gallows Fool

I walk to my gallows pole,
To slip the noose upon my neck,
Beneath this deserts blazing sun I pay the toll.
In this arid scape ends my trek.

Through dust I stagger,
Beaded sweat upon brow,
I am the loser of this fatal wager.
Sentenced to hang outside this weathered town.

Final grains of sand fall from my hourglass of life,
Upon my sins I now reflect,
Wincing at noon sun, pondering a path of gun and knife.
How I wished of good, I did not neglect.

With racing heart and quickened breath,
I wait the levers pull,
For rope to taught, to usher death,
A life expired, a miserable fool.