The Desert Inn
On a dark desert highway.
Cool wind in my hair.
I cranked open the chopper.
I didn’t have a care.
Watched the stars up high.
No one was around.
I ran out of ‘poppers’.
I thought I heard a sound.
I pulled over & stopped.
All I heard was the wind.
I thought I heard the coppers.
As I scratched under my chin,
Good thing I ran out of ‘poppers.’
I heard a voice on the wind.
“Welcome to the Desert Inn.”
“What a lovely place.”
“Such a lovely face.”
“Come stay awhile within.”
“Any time of year.”
“You are welcome here.”
I looked all around.
I could not see a thing.
I listened for a sound.
I couldn’t hear a thing.
I started riding down the road.
Soon I saw a shimmering light.
I thought this must be the place.
It turned out I was right.
The Desert Inn; as I was told.
A sign above the door said:
WELCOME- STAY AWHILE
“Can I get myself a bed?”
The night clerk smiled.
“If that’s what you want, sir.”
I told him that it was.
“Can I get a cold beer?”
“I’ll bring one up in awhile.”
“Welcome to the Desert Inn.”
“What a lovely place.”
“Such a lovely face.”
“Come stay awhile within.”
“Any time of year.”
“You are welcome here.”
Again, I looked all around
I could not see a thing.
I listened for a sound.
I couldn’t hear a thing.
I found the room & in I went.
Simple but, cozy.
Nothing to rave about.
Then I decided to mosey.
And have a look about.
I heard laughter from a vent.
In the ‘party room’, below.
a party was going on..
I went to join the show.
I wasn’t gone for too long.
The waitress came.
I ordered a beer.
She said “It is a real shame.”
“We don’t have any beer here.”
“Welcome to the Desert Inn.”
“What a lovely place.”
“Such a lovely face.”
“Come stay awhile within.”
“Any time of year.”
“You are welcome here.”
I looked all around.
I could not see a thing.
I listened for a sound.
I couldn’t hear a thing.
I asked the waitress what it was.
“What do you mean?” she said.
“Someone singing about this place.”
“Oh, that is nothing.” she said.
“Ghosts sing about this place.”
“What do you mean?” I said.
“Just past guests who like it here.”
“Past guests who like it here?”
“Well, yes. You can check out anytime.”
“But, You can never leave.”
I shot out of there like a jet bird.
I rode 100 mph to the nearest town.
I told the sheriff what I saw & heard.
He laughed, then frowned.
He sang: “Welcome to the Desert Inn.”
“What a lovely place.”
“Such a lovely face.”
“Come stay awhile within.”
“Any time of year.”
“You are welcome here.”
“Did you look all around son?”
“Did you not see anything?”
“Did you listen for a sound son?”
“Did you not hear a thing?”
“Yes, that is exactly what happened.”
“It is all an urban legend. son.”
“Many people went through what you did.”
“No trace of the place is ever found.”
“We’ll go look when it’s light.”
“You will see what I mean.”
“You can follow me on your bike.”
“We will check out the scene.”
In the morning we went back there.
Not a thing could be found or heard.
He said “I was lucky to be there.”
“Some people didn’t make it out, we heard.”
I had to take him at his word.
I had nothing else to say.
As I rode away I heard a bird.
It seemed to be laughing all the way.———R. W. Johnson—–(2014)