Old Man Jebediah

Old man Jebediah, a grizzled soul so worn
Lives out in the holler where the winds
Are ever torn
His cabin's weathered gray
With paint peelin' off like skin
And eyes that pierce your marro
He ain't one to let you win

He sits on his porch swing creakin'
Shotgun by his side
Watchin' shadows dance
And flicker as day turns into night
The dogs at his feet they growl low

Teeth bared white as bone
They guard this land fiercely
For Old Man Jeb is known

"Git! Git!" he bellows loud enough

To shake the trees
Don't you dare step foot on my property

Unless it pleases me!"
His voice raspy with age but laced with a
Chilling threat
These woods are his kingdom ruled by anger
And regret
For anyone foolish enough to cross those
Rusted gates He holds a fiery vengeance fueled by lonely hates

Deer wander past untouched

They know better than to stray From Grandpa
Jed's domain where danger holds its sway. The scent of gunpowder
Hangs heavy in the air around him

A testament to years spent honing skills both
Deadly and grim

One time some teenagers dared trespass
Lookin' for fun, Thinkin' an old coot wouldn't
Stand a chance
They were wrong, by sun

He unleashed his hounds and watched them
Tear through the night
Their primal howls echoing as they chased
Those fools in fright

"Git! Git!" he bellows loud enough to shake the
Trees,"
Don't you dare step foot on my property
Unless it pleases me!"
His voice raspy with age
But laced with a chilling threat
These woods are his kingdom
Ruled by anger and regret
For anyone foolish enough to
Cross those rusted gates
He holds a fiery vengeance
Fueled by lonely hates

They say he lost his family
Years ago in some terrible fire
Left him shattered, broken
Consumed by bitter desire
To protect what little remained
This land where memories lie
A fortress built of solitude under an unforgiving sky

So if you ever wander near that
Holler dark and deep
Where shadows whisper secrets only
Old Man Jeb can keep
Remember this
Stay clear or face the consequences dire
For Grandpa Jed ain't one
To let trespassers expire

Years passed, the whispers grew
Legends spun around his name
"Old Man Jebediah," they'd mutter
"best leave him be in shame."
His dogs grew old and gray
Their teeth still sharp as knives
But their hunts became less frequent
Now just restless circling drives

One day a young man wandered in
Eyes bright with naive zeal
To map the holler's secrets for a book
He hoped to reveal
He didn't know of Old Man Jeb
Or the danger that lay near
Just dreamed of capturing beauty
Hidden from most folks here

He saw only trees and streams
Heard only birdsong sweet
Until a twig snapped underfoot
Sending chills down to his feet

"Git! Git!"
The roar ripped through the silence
Like thunder from above
Startled yelps turned into screams
As fear consumed his love Of life itself
This wasn't some peaceful woodland stroll
But Grandpa Jed's domain where
Death would claim its toll

Two hulking beasts erupted from shadows
Deep and dark
Their jaws snapping hungrily fueled
By instinct leaving no mark
On mercy
One lunged at legs while another tore
At chest
The young man stumbled back
Crying out begging for respite yet

Grandpa Jeb emerged slow-stepping onto dusty ground
His shotgun aimed steady

Eyes cold and hard around

"Get off my land," he rasped
His voice a chilling decree
"One more step," he warned
With a wicked grin, "and you'll be history."

The young man froze paralyzed by terror
In the face of death
He knew this wasn't some story
This was real life
A harsh breath Before darkness swallowed him whole as
Grandpa Jeb pulled the trigger

A single shot echoed through the silent holler woods
The young man crumpled down
Forever silenced by Old Man Jed's moods
He stood there for a moment staring
At what had just transpired
Then turned back towards his cabin
Where shadows danced and fires burned
This is how it would always be
Isolated and alone

But sometimes that solitude felt better than any warmth known