Innocence

We called Jimmy strange; we teased him in play, most of the time he'd laugh our cheek away. We'd dare him to play pool; always loser pay! So we played pool for nothing each day. One night a stranger who did not understand, called to the publican we all should be banned. He took Jimmy's cue; he saw what's going on, telling us what we’re doing to Jimmy is wrong. The stranger was right, but Jimmy don't mind, in his eyes we’re his friends; he saw us as kind. The stranger exposed his friendship; Jimmy ran home. We argued our point and left the stranger alone. Late into that night, a tale of disbelief, “Come down to the hotel for its full of grief. Jimmy's locked in a room and somewhere he’s got a gun that he’s fired. The stranger’s been shot!” With the innocence lost of Jim’s simple mind. If I’d turned my cheek and just stayed behind, there’d still be the innocence. I’d have calmed Jimmy down. Murder crushed out the life of my country town. The law is in place; Jimmy can't understand. Shouting in the hallway baffled him with demand. Society must take to Jim where it all seems surreal. This life he'll leave behind for one of bars of steel. I stood at the doorway where Jim could hear my voice. I called “Put the gun down. Jim there’s no other choice.” Jim turned the key to let me through the door, then I heard the blast and the thump on the floor. With the innocence lost of Jim’s simple mind. If I’d turned my cheek and just stayed behind, there’d still be the innocence. I’d have calmed Jimmy down. Suicide crushed out the life of my country town.