Monday, December 31, 2018

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






Sunday, December 16, 2018




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




Saturday, November 10, 2018

Joy


Joy

Drops of beauty
gather together
nourishing rivulets

Streams of gratitude
form internal river
banks overflow with joy

(18-314A)

Friday, November 9, 2018

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

Friday, November 2, 2018

Retronasal Memories


Retronasal Memories

Gritty dust
tastes of memories
long ago
forgotten

Dregs of thought
familiar taste
potently fermented
violently surface

18-306z

Saturday, October 27, 2018

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

Monday, October 22, 2018

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

Sunday, October 21, 2018

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

Saturday, October 20, 2018

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

Friday, October 5, 2018

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)

Sunday, September 30, 2018

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

Saturday, September 22, 2018

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)

Friday, September 21, 2018

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)


Wednesday, September 19, 2018

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)

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Untitled


Fog clings
Clenched fist
Grips tight

Leaves wet
Moistness resists
Droplets clings

Sticky mind
Thoughts ruminate
Cloaks clarity

(18-251a)

Monday, September 17, 2018

Swoon


Swoon

Into open arms fall
     sweet surrender
Engulfed in extravagant love
     fidelity tender

(18-081B)

Sunday, September 16, 2018

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?

Saturday, September 15, 2018

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)

Friday, September 14, 2018

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)

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

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)

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

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)

Monday, September 10, 2018

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

Friday, September 7, 2018

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

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Smooth

Smooth

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

18-249z

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

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

Monday, September 3, 2018

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

Sunday, August 26, 2018

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

Saturday, August 25, 2018

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

Thursday, August 23, 2018

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

Monday, August 20, 2018

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

Saturday, August 11, 2018

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

Friday, August 10, 2018

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.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

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)


Wednesday, August 8, 2018

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

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

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)

Monday, August 6, 2018

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

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

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

Monday, July 30, 2018

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

Sunday, July 29, 2018

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