Tumbleweeds

Tumbleweeds

Sound of wind pushing

 trees sullenly sway

Gray skies of winter

 swirling spits of snow

Nebraska prairie brown

 tumbleweeds tumble

Stampeding above the grass

 'til gaggle gathers on fences

Darting across roads

 dodging traffic

Safely on their way

 Omaha bound

18-361A

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PEACE

Peace softly flows

 gathers in refreshing pools

Cool to the weary

 quenching to the thirsty

Cascading over stones

 soothes anxious thoughts

Glassy aqua reflects

 calming gateway to soul

18-350A

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Psalms 23:2-3 NASB

#high.plains.poet

Joy

Joy

Drops of beauty

gather together

nourishing rivulets

Streams of gratitude

form internal river

banks overflow with joy

(18-314A)

Glow

Glow

November's waning crescent moon

amber curve's glow
beckons me

Longing's primal howl rises

pulling up
memories of you

18-313z

Retronasal Memories

Retronasal Memories

Gritty dust

tastes of memories

long ago

forgotten

Dregs of thought

familiar taste

potently fermented

violently surface

18-306z

Dying Grass Moon

Dying Grass Moon

Somber light leaks

   clouds cloak

      the Dying Grass Moon

Daybreak a month ago

   sun paints horizon

      gossamer sky

Season passes stealthily

   'til aware of

      light hidden longer

High plains

   shades of brown

      grass grieves

Winter's approach

   chills the lungs

      denudes prairie

18-299z

From Far Away Places

From Far Away Places

Swirl of words

 flush twice

Insecurities spew

 continuous chatter

Mirror amplifies

 all the words

About nothing

 worry consumes

Place to hide

 instead of deep dive

18-275x

Melodic Icing

Melodic Icing

Meadowlark songs

 usher in autumn

First hard freeze

 coated white with frost

Yet they're still here

 singing their melodies

18-279z

Fall Snow Upon High Plains

Fall Snow Upon High Plains

dawn's glow festers

prismatic light

reflects upon ice

nostrils flare

exhale frosty breath

canter briskly

mane dances

tail held proud

18-290z

Groom

Groom

Thoughts twisted in knots

Wondering if he'll come

Ponder taking same name

Gossamer filters shame

'Til silhouette reveals

Conviction's appeal

(18-278y)

Pilot

Pilot

Our beautiful English Shepherd
Letting her go today
We miss you
You no longer struggle
each breath was laborious
weeks since you were able
to run free in the fields
not having the breath to be
the dog you always have been
the last few days
barely moving around the garage
not venturing out in the morning briefly
not rising up to greet me as enter the garage
finally not eating
the damned tumors
creating respiritory failure
another causing pulminar failure
still alert yet worn out in her eyes
it was time to say good bye
releasing you back into the hands of Father
there will always be a place in our heart
where images and memories reside of you
you were a shadow on the farm
always close behind
no more
just a shadow in our memory
Pilot (Pi Pi, 3.14159) good bye my friend

18-271z

New Food for Thought

New Food for Thought

My thoughts I chew
Cud that ruminates
Regurgitate past
No longer satisfies

18-273z

Renewal

Renewal

Aspen limbs arch

canopy of golden leaves

over abandoned road

Ponderosa pine forewarn

can hear it coming

in the crowns

With each gust

quivering shakes free

flaxen leaves flutters down

I alone watch

intruder in this world

awestruck in solitude

Rest upon a rock

eat my sandwich

drink in honey colors

Beauty awakens

dormant longings

restores hope

(18-265u)

Maturation

Maturation

Rush of water

Against stones

Rough edges

Worn smooth

Harshness of pride

Broken down

In tumbler

Of experience

No longer

Embrace

Forced outcomes

Imposing will

Life's cataracts

Develops maturity

Jostling of stones

Wear one another

Whitewater of journey

Sputters and chokes

Leaves stripped bare

Battered and bruised

Waterlogged crawl

Upon the bank

Delivered safely

Upon the shore

All the baggage lost

Who I am

Is enough

Now, finally alive

(18-265y)

Nectar

Nectar

Monarchs drift about sea of purple blossoms

alfalfa dances in turbulent breeze

Orange and black wings cling tight

guzzles sweet nectar as float away inebriated

(18-264a)

August Full Moon

August Full Moon

Memories of Fall

in August chill

Milky full moon

spills upon the prairie

Nurtures life

at its breast

High plains suckle 

before first frost

Illuminating aura

fills the sky

Darkness held at bay

in August's full moon

(18-241a)

Untitled

Fog clings

Clenched fist

Grips tight

Leaves wet

Moistness resists

Droplets clings

Sticky mind

Thoughts ruminate

Cloaks clarity

(18-251a)

Swoon

Swoon

Into open arms fall

     sweet surrender

Engulfed in extravagant love

     fidelity tender

(18-081B)

Motes

Motes

Images play on mind's screen

rooms of house long forgotten

Still live in image

musty places needing air

Stale air of pain and death

air the memory out

Open the window of soul

Deadbolts on door open

Open vulnerability to heart again

light penetrates the darkness

Motes play with the light

as breeze stirs the years

Long winter of shuttered rooms

freshness of spring arouses hope

(18-087A)

Restoration

Restoration

Before Love, Grace, and Mercy

darkness cannot stand

Beauty in what once was broken

fractured place restored

(18-099D)

Author's note: What if Love, Grace, and Mercy are actually beings that fight on our behalf?

Confidence

Confidence

Confidence in my deliverer

His love floods into the darkness

I've invited Him into the hidden place

What once held power now powerless

(18-099D)

Not Alone

Not Alone

Turn and embrace the discomfort

shame quivers with each step forward

Light exposes as move close

no fear because I know He who is with me

(18-099D)

Amusement Park

Amusement Park

That place of

     don't go there

A Ferris wheel

     that picks up speed

As feed the fuel

     to bitter arguments

Yet unresolved

     perhaps never solved

So don't buy the ticket

     get out of line

A cup of coffee

     as friends

A place to

     start again

(18-107D)

Fear

Fear

Weary voice

weak and strained

Life's circumstances

pressure remains

What once brought joy

held too tight

An anchor now

moored and bound

Just let it go

life's too short

Unbind the fear

live again

(18-256z)

Plum Sky

Plum Sky

In every day joy is found
observe the unobserved
Look up as sun breaks horizon
for a moment thoughts still
Plum horizon
burnt September sky
Wonderment captures me
expressions of praise flow

(18-255z)

Fused

Fused

Cottony paper draws the ink

like memories of you

Etched fire brick red

upon the hearth of my heart

Warmth radiates from each word

tattooed deep within

(18-227A)

Hushed

the land lay quiet

irrigation stopped

fog envelops

shrouds near and far

now all that's left

dampness clinging

sparkles prismatic

in day's young light

18-251z

In Summer When

In Summer When

Contrail follows

pickup's path

Dust coats

sticky skin

Becomes mud

rub brow

Paints earthiness

upon tanned flesh

Marks of earth

furrows cut deep

Upon terrain of face

he marks the earth

18-229y

Smooth

Smooth

Heart wanders to peaceful place
sounds of water rushing over stones
rough edges rounded
so too worry's edges smoothed

18-249z

Sometimes I wonder why

Sometimes I wonder why

We invest time and life

Into living on a farm

Then moment of awe

Makes it all worth it

Seeing what others

Only dream of

Unfold before my eyes

Sounds of hooves

Pounding the prairie

Variegated sky

Colors the palette

All reminding me

To live in the moment

18-247z

Notes: Video is of getting our Arabian horses back to the pens before dark tonight.

Rustling

Rustling

Rustle of leaves high above

blue gray curtain covers sky

cloaks sun

as rest in the hammock

gazing skyward

through canopy of green

Daughter leaves after

long weekend home

transitions again

as season rustles

thoughts drift

like cotton clouds

18-246y

Fluid Grace

Fluid Grace

Have you ever seen grace

a small band of Arabian horses

sprint through tall prairie grass

For a quarter mile

long strides, necks horizontal

tail carriage, mane floating

Lithely above the prairie

gaining speed, synced rhythm 

Gaze fixed upon them

'til they fade

in final light of day

Up the hill

into their corral

prancing 'n snorting

Phantoms of beauty 'n grace

18-246a

Author Notes:

Image is courtesy of our daughter from last night. An image of Ben before he herded up the mares and ran up the hill.

Breaching the tree row

Breaching the tree row

Wetness clings low

heavy cottony white

brightly clouds vision

gentle breeze rocks branches

leaves collect moisture

drops patter down in dissonance

Long forgotten sounds

stretch dormant memories

sweetness of mind taffy

pulled and twisted

integrates past and present

Pheasants call from the prairie

raising the alarm

familiar rapid beat of wing

echo as they rise in flight

quickly disappear

fog conceals once again

18-246z

Seasonal Tides

Seasonal Tides

Memories well up

pressure of past

As release again

son and daughter

In late summer

Season of letting go

Each time reality

when time gone

Instead of months

only days together

As launch out

On their own

Cycles of life

rise and fall

On life's ocean

blessing the tides

18-230x

Seasons Wrestle

Seasons Wrestle 

Fall's chill touches
summer refuses to yield

Once again seasons conflict
steamy fog as they vie

Curtain veils
green and brown struggle

18-232z

Drifting

Drifting 18-235z

Fragments float easily
bobbing on the surface

Caught in undercurrent
pulled below by murky flow

Stuck in mental snags
trauma's force holds

Bobbing again
sputtering breaths

Ravenously feed lungs
alive, finally free

Drifting again

Wyandotte

Wyandotte 18-232y

Today lifeless, mortally wounded
Feathers black and white
Just a day ago wandering yard
Scratching dirt

In a box it sits
Waiting for me
after work
Alone I carry it

Walk with a shovel
Down the hill
I scratch in dirt
Peck the ground

Where daughter requested
To put the hen to rest
Hard soil
In a hole two feet deep

Thoughts

Thoughts

All that has been

All that is

All that will be

Born from a thought

Up from the heart

Artesian thoughts flow

Into the mind plant

Slowly they grow

Seasons pass slow

Then there is fruit

Good or uh oh

Aware one must be

18-223z

Redemption

Redemption 

Redemption is the story

God's grace wraps 'round

You are my beloved

Reclaim your beauty from all the ashes

Redemption for the desires of your heart

18-222y

Simple Joy

Simple Joy

Stillness wraps around
Gurgle of water
In ditches it flows
Pinto beans and corn grow

Before me they stand
doe eyed ever so close
on the ditch bank
encounter again

Smile crease lips
joy in untamed elegance
lissomely hurdle the ditch
gracefully bound away

(18-222z)
Note: Joy in encountering two young does today at the break of day.

Day Fades

Day Fades

sun teases
behind foliage
blazing tangerine

seduces the eye
moment of reflection
in nature's mirror

quieting self
in seasons
of transitions

in gentle breeze
sweeping mind
peace engulfs

(18-221x)

Static Builds

Static Builds

Lightning creases blackened horizon
sky bleeds from jagged cuts
Bipolar wrath rumbles
anger rattles windows

Violence approaches
rushes in upon its victim
Harsh blows gust
calm settles after storm

18-197x

Silt

Silt

Life flows down
from mountains
hard concrete ditch
in eddies silt collects
in the murkiness
memories wash
further down
'til finds its way
onto the loam
softened gumbo
mixing together
beneath feet
nurishing the prairie

(18-219y)

Wildcat Hills

Wildcat Hills

Shear mist
canoodling the escarpment
hugging tight and low
femine contours

Summer's burnt prairie
grass green, tips brown
droplets hang heavy
surrendering to delicate brush

(18-219z)

Turbulence

Turbulence 18-218Y

Horizon black
debri whirls
unstable thoughts
air swirls

Regurgitation buffets
replay the memories
palpitations toss
puke anxiety

Pockets of stillness
heart drops
roiled again
roller coaster emotions

Subsides as
quick as
it came
peace

Tilting

Tilting (18-198B)

Wind gently spins
tower blades rotate slowly
He charges quixotically
tilting at windmills again

Fabric

Fabric (18-196A)

Gray chiffon fog
hangs seductively
upon the prairie

Intimately sheer
exposing sweet
candy to the eye

Bluffs allure in
cottony voile seduces
thoughts of beauty

Belly dancing
prairie grass
in orgaza entices all

Skirt of mist a
silk gazar
teases in wind

Poetry

Poetry (18-146A)

Addicted to poetry
each line's curve
beautiful figure
imagine the verve

Captures me slowly
causes a swerve
romanced by words
lusciously served

DNA

DNA (17-181C)

Hamster wheel
turns anew each day
wondering if

Tired words
from a tired man
in a tired life

Cycle in circle
loop upon loop
double helix

A Psalm

A Psalm (18-187A)

Light breaks across
the dawn horizon

Choosing words of praise

to offer up to You oh God

Reminded of Your faithfulness

often though I've fallen

You've never abandoned me

always treating me with mercy

Your eyes always

filled with loving kindness

Though I've sinned

You still embrace me

Your love breaks me

Who is like You

Your intimacy

restores and nourishes me

Who is like you oh God

Your comfort alone satisfies

You pull me close

as only a lover does

Exhaustion

Exhaustion (18-183A)

Chaos of day
breaks like turbid waters
Over the levy
defiling once peaceful mind

Week blurred in stress
letting go of outcomes
Exhaustion envelops weary bones
body collapse in recovery

Nebraska Beauty

Nebraska Beauty 17-177B

Reminded why country life is so rewarding
summer evening upon the tractor sit
going round the field picking up bales of hay
cool wind embraces me as storms roll around

Night has fallen as finish the load
lightening cuts the sky to the North and South
crawling up the field exposed with no cab
hum of bale wagon as moves hay tray to tray

Peacefulness floods heart as grounded
reality of connection to soil
moments alone in God's creation
beauty all around if open my eyes

Psalm

Psalm 17-174D

Constant transitions as
journey always in motion
moving water of time

Allow love of Father
to wash over me
abandon ship
float fully exposed
upon His river of life

Currents carry me
to His shores
allow Him to
lead my days

Whatever time left
stay close with Him
embrace His touch
invite His touch

Filled with His
loving kindness
shatters the bondage
of lies

Free to be
the complete expression
of who I am

Embrace Him
in all the love
of a son

Sky Bullies

Sky Bullies (18-205B)

Light pierces through
clouds open portals
Rays flow in needles
stabbing the ground

Droplets sprinkle coolness on my
skin while pools on edges of glasses
Jagged lightening arcs scar
the deep blue clouds

Backside of thunderhead
rises majestically
Full of pride in destructive power
abuses the land

Strong breath quivers trees
deep roots resist
Bully defying still stand
taunting your wrath