Three Young Friends Went Riding (standard:poetry, 967 words)
Author: Andrew Dayton	Added: Oct 19 2004	Views/Reads: 3735/2501	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Three boys on their way to being men have a fortuitous encounter with strangers. Verse form.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

And rubbed his grizzled jaw.


He said," You'll think we're odd 
but we've been a-waiting here for you,
To help you boys grow up
To be good men straight and true."


We been here for many years,
waiting on the likes of you,
though not too many find us,
And them that do is few."


The first said "Yes my name is Loyal,
 And odd though it may be
you'll be surprised by the men
You'll meet that has met with me.


You'll see them at a wedding
On a barstool, in a jam.
In a spot that's unfamiliar,
Mayhap a place called Viet Nam"


"My friendship is quite treasured 
And is shared in a manner spare
Though it's known in every language,
It still rings pretty rare."


The other spoke up soft-like,
"I'm Trusty Worthington,
But you just call me Trust and
I'll teach you to make good friends."


I've ridden some miles and crossed the trails
Of many a good man
And when you meet up with them
You can put your life in their hands


You'll find that we're important
No, not in a worldly way,
But when you need a helping hand
We help you on your way."


Then the silence fell and we thought a spell
as the fire crackled low,
And a third voice rolled out gentle,
Gentle, solemn, slow:


" So here you are at last
with my companions two.
The very best friends a man could have	
And I see they've met you too.


Then we saw a man dressed strangely,
In the flickering shadows he stood
And we felt a warm breeze rising
>From the quiet of the woods


His clothing was quite different
He was groomed and curried neat
In a long white gown a-flowing
To the ground above bare feet.


Me, I stared open-mouthed
And my heart beat fit to bust.
As my two chums stood a-gaping
His voice began rolling thus:


"These men are my pardners
We've been around some time
I'm right proud of their company
These two good friends of mine."


We three ride together and 
You'll never see us alone
We're none without the other
We always ride as one


We were named, our three fine names
By my Father up above
You met Loyal and Trusty,
And me, my name is Love."


You boys have stout hearts 
And as you continue down your trail
We'll help you muddle through choices
Where most men trip and fail 


Then he commenced to talking
My heart leapt with each word
And I knew that we, Cliff, Clem and me
Were amazed by what we heard.


We sat in still-life silence,
The smoke wreathed us each in turn
And the words he spoke drove deeply
With a truth that burned and burned.


We listened until the sun rose
Where night shook hands with day 
Then he stopped and sat down quiet,
Run plumb out of things to say


I was the first to find my voice,
"Will we meet you again?"
He poured himself some coffee
And grinned at his two friends.


"We won't be sharing a campfire
But don't take that too hard.
Now that we've done our talking
I'd be glad to call you pards


So when you clasp a hand in friendship
You'll know they know us too.
And every single friend you make
Will be a good one through and through.


Then he looked us over careful
And iron was in that gaze
With piercing eyes I'll recognize
The remainder of my days


Well, we broke the camp and took our leave
And my heart was sitting fine
And I could see the same thing
In the eyes of those chums of mine.


Sometimes I get to thinking
And missing those three fine gents
But I carry with me their message
Their words and what they meant.
So not a day goes passing
I don't see the faces of those men
Of Love and Loyalty and Trust
In those I call my friends.

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