Yeehaw! Whilst D. Avery’s gone off lookin fer me at Word Craft Poetry, I’m already havin my second adventure. Yep, I’m an escaped fictional character, A. Kid, usually kep outta the way, tucked inta the Ranch Yarn pages here at ShiftnShake. I’ve ventured away from a virtual Ranch, an lookee here! A virtual Café & Bistro an they’s holdin a Poetry Slam!

Seems Denise, at GirlieontheEdge, is hostin Six Sentence Stories, meanin ya jist have ta write six sentences, no more no less, thet includes some form of the prompt word, “second“. Go HERE to link in an leave a poem or story or read more Sixes. But this week there‘s also a poetry slam being held at the Six Sentence Café & Bistro. An I aim ta join in, have some fun a’fore D. Avery gits back an puts me in my place.

L’ East Ways by A. Kid

Don’t know where I’m at, mebbe Providence done brought me here
Thinkin this Café & Bistro, like a saloon, least serves chow an beer
I’m thirsty from road dust, wandered so far from the Ranch
ain’t used ta the city but thought I might take a chance;
struck out on my own, ta see what I kin do
jist hope these fancy folks’ll serve me, an my hoglet too.

When that tall thin man ain’t lookin, I’ll sneak in my fat pig
Hey! A poetry slam? Here's my secon off-Ranch gig.
Yep, me an my hog hit the road, went out on the lam
we’re lookin fer gigs, like this poetry slam
Cain’t much more put me in a happier mood
cept fer a beer an some a that bistro food.

Cain’t tell if there’s rules, hope this slam ain’t fixed
something bout havin ta work around six?
Fer this I’ll be countin both stanzas an lines 
not my usual word count a zactly 99
I’m away from the Ranch, outta the barns
takin a chance, steppin outta the Yarns.

I’m known as Kid, an I’m far from my range
a fictional character, hope ya don’t find me too strange
an what I took as a pup, turned out ta be swine
but Curly’s real smart, an behaves herself fine
so if it’s okay fer us ta join in this poetry deal
I’ll squeak out some rhymes an my pig will jist squeal. 

Phew, six stanzas, it’s startin ta feel like a lot
but I’ll give it a go and give ya’ll what I got
but suddenly I’m feelin lonesome an lost
missin the cattle an missin my hoss
ain’t cut out fer the city, ain’t cut out fer cutting loose
feelin outta place, away from my usual group.

Yet this is a mighty nice Bistro, a lot a fine folk is in here
an the service is great! Yes thank you, I’ll have a second beer!
I’ll gather my courage fer this poetry slam
an hope ta be ‘cepted fer who I am
All I kin do, is jist do my best
the rhymin Kid from outta the west.