Dresser

Dresser (18-150W)

Choose to unpack

This sick looking thing

Unfinished finish

Every time

Resistance encountered

As try to dismantle

Dresser mocks

Tattered old clothes

Worn by others

Not mine

Refuse to wear

No longer who I am

Swimming

Swimming (18-007D)

Twilight's purples and pinks
Canadian gees rise off corn stubble
listen to movement of wings
swim through the air

Soak in the sights and sounds
v formations move in waves
return to safety of North Platte River
at dawn to only surf the air again

Gift

Gift (18-005A)

Flames flicker
candle wax
globs harden
soft glow

Warm hearts
sing carols
God's grace
inspires awe

Remember
depths of Father's love
redemption's restoration
all made right

Doodled

Doodled (18-005A)

He doodled in the dirt
in the very dust came from
Exposing the heart of Man
accusers walk away

Hearts of stone
tablet etched by finger of God
Restored hearts of flesh
Father's mercy demonstrated

All end up at feet of Jesus
repent
Transformation in a moment
internal temple holy and pure

Communication Fail

Communication Fail (18-012B)

Moment communication fails
go off-line
transmit and receive stop
No green and red railroad

Poll failure
no apparent reason
ask why
curiosity

Explore what failed
reboot system
give it time
to re-establish connection 

Hard starts
soft starts
quality bit good
restored

Scattered Ashes

Scattered Ashes (18-149Y)

A life held in jar

Free from urn

Memories drift

As each scoop

Drifts a moment

In the wind

A father remembered

Returned to a place

Of happy memories

From childhood

At the base of an aspen

Looking upon a valley

You explored with your father

Now returned in somberness

No headstone 

No pomp

Just memories

As ashes drift

Goodbye

Storm Brews

Storm Brews 18-132y

Storm gathers on western horizon

Sky dual blaze in setting glow

Soft white light as if view through filters as changes to deep blue

From north to south lighting intermittently pierces sky

Uniqueness of nightfall on high plains

Left in solitude to watch in choice to watch

Darkness cloaks and soon go in

Awe of small moments reward

Coyotes yip from bluff to the south

Then silence then commotion

Once again alone in moment

Letting Go

Letting Go (18-132Z)

Morning after son

Leaves again 

Sullen is the day

Sun hidden away

A father's love

Ache that he goes

A world away

Reunite in 60 days

Untitled

Untitled 18-136Y

Soften my heart
  with the water of your word

Your praise

  my mind settle and gird

Disappointments hardened my gaze

  moments where hard to praise

Stew

Stew 18-139x

Waning moments of day

Stir undone thoughts

Anxiety stew as day replays

Slip into sleep distraught

For once to drift away

In moment of bliss

In peaceful rest lay

Recall lover's sweet kiss

Walking Dust

Walking Dust (18-143Y)

Strokes of lightning

Static energizes skin 

Heartbeat quickens 

Thoughts of you

Air thickens

Hair stands on end 

Storm gathers 

Strokes of lightning 

Thunder rumbles

Horizon blotted out

Gathering static

Energy builds

Pulsing discharge

Strikes walking dirt

Man from dust of ground

Heart revived 

Glimmer

Glimmer 18-142y

         -i-
Beads of dew
Hang like ornaments
Mini disco balls
Separating light

         -ii-
Micro prisms scatters
Sparkling rainbow
Each step
Retinal bliss

         -iii-
Blades of grass
Greenness gathers
Natures teardrops
Til spills over

         -iv-
Onto black boots
Coolness kisses toes
Startles warm veneer
Very dust of earth

Sky-Tear

Sky-Tears (18-139B)

Cimmerian sky pouts
anguish drips upon lusty soil
transforms energy of travail
into new life

Anger sizzles with each flash
stroke of light pierces
darkness accented
by cracks of booming thunder

Such is the season
when all things green emerge
out of hibernation arise
each  sky-tear nurses renewal

Soaked, shaking off  somberness
dousing the dirge
joy enters in celebration
desolation no more

Each tear from above
washes clean all stains
'til standing bathed in warmth
even memories redeemed

Eternal Embrace

Eternal Embrace (18-137A)

Morning fog rolls

filling low places 

Pushed along

in gentle breeze 

Softly mutes sun

ethereal silhouette 

Moistness embraces

as enter the mist 

Everything different

in variegated light 

Seeing awakens paradigm

new dimensions enter 

Celebrate the embrace

heaven

Thedford

Thedford (18-132B)

Across Highway 2 in Spring

Sandhills full of life

desolate road dotted with pools

Coal trains rumble past

dual track of BNSF

four steel ribbons cut terrain

Cattle and calves

mallards and geese

bulky deer filled out

Luscious green of grass

solitude full of life

sparse unincorporated towns

Antioch, Lakeside, Ellsworth, 

Bingham, Ashby, Hyannis

Whitman, Mullen, Thedford

Rip Van Winkled

Sleepy from another era

Lunch at Sandhills Corral

No fast food in 100 mile stretch

Waitress fits the outback of Nebraska

Lithe beauty like all that surrounds

Rugged splendor fills with awe

to stay through Winter's harshness - isolated

rewarded with grandeur of rolling hills

Valleys gathering water

'til collected in Middle Loup

further east widens

From small creeks all draining

together to form rambling river

winds between hills with green banks

Friendly country this time of year

Winter's cocoon shaken off

a drive out of the way

Land undiscovered

solitude that busyness disturbs

hubbub of city not welcome

Where grime of megalopolis

rubs off in gritty life on the land

payphones, cell phone coverage hasn't penetrated

Roughness of nature

all - people and landscape - weathered
tanned leathery golden skin

Cowboy hats aren't a fashion statement
natural as skin it accents
a person's natural grace

Place inviting to poets

where mind expands in open country

words spill to page as lost in time

Solitude that draws
haunting the soul
beckoning to remember

Symbiotic relationship
an ancient rhythm
lost in the commotion

Nebraska

Nebraska 18-133A

Fog's shadow hides

tops of ridge wrapped white

a hat that cloaks

hills in other worldly light

Sun hides again

second day of overcast

unusual for high plains

coolness invites warmth

Presses breathing things close

forces an intimacy

one can hope

warmth envelops

Hours pass and grey drifts

clouds gradually lift

rays penetrate the rift

mercy is a gift

Remember

Remember (18-135B)

I remember the day

door opens and there you are

dressed in white

Father at your side

down the isle you glide

music starts and all rise

Beauty has your name

after all these years

my love for you

A burning flame

union isn't easy

marriage matures

Together we walk through

dark days and days of joy

covenant amplifies life

NOTE - thoughts about our approaching 30th wedding anniversary

Quaff

Quaff 18-135z

Velvet petals closed
Water beads glisten
Heart not exposed

Simple beauty soft
Memories of us revive
Retina ravenously quaff

Walk Slow

Walk Slow (18-130X)

Stillness of morning

Young light crests horizon

Life all around hums

Droplets caress

Drooping blades

Prisms of light glisten

Simple things

Beautiful to eye

If walk slow

Defy

Defy (18-129y)

As silently glide
On bike I ride
Through morning air
Heavy with cares

Knots tight inside
Truth can't hide
Reality collides
Intimacy defies

Upchuck

Upchuck 18-127x

Puke up memories
Long ago lodged
Deep in the body
Imaturely ignored
When needed explored
Now they surface
From 30 years ago
All disengorged
Spewed on the floor
Rank and vile undigested
Heavy yoke broke

Shedding

Shedding (18-126Z)

Over rough terrain
Buffet 'til black 'n blue
Bent double and stained
Life's toxic brew

Hardened skin
Loosened now shed
At last life begins
No longer dead

Dew

Dew (18-124Z)

Crispness after a rain
air clean and clear
humidity clings to flesh

Green vibrant and alive
droplets dangle on blades grass
drooping from weight of fruit

Aroma of tree blossoms
drifts lazily in the air
still drowsy from hybernation

Morning light sparkles
natures diamond necklace
twinkles from all things damp

Bare

Bare (16-271)

Drying corn stalks

Rustling in darkness

Wind fondling ears

Flames dance

Tiki torches alive 

Wind tormenting flame

Coyote's howls

Quiet then staccato

Coal trains rumble in distance

Crickets crick

Soon cedar tree

Only tree clothed

Bare vegetation

Bare trees

Bare soul

Crashes Loud

Crashes Loud (17-030A)

Life crashes loud

Surf breaks hard

Tests courage

Vows

Vows (17-340Z)

Covenant made

Vows exchanged

Standing bare

In awe stare

Vulnerable in

Light's  full glare

Eden's glory

Our new story

Claimed

Claimed (16-195)

Part that won't be tamed,

Forcefully and fully claimed,

Being without shame,

Intentionally reframed.

No longer contained,

No longer mild,

Love lavish and wild.

Congruent

Congruent (18-078Z)

So you're in my head today

Liminal space you are there

Between dream world and awake

Oh the ecstatic places to play

Together in ravenous love

For both worlds to align

Commitment (18-110Z)

Commitment (18-110Z)

Committed to work through

Emotional separation and distance

Loneliness cracks open soul

Touch expressionless

Desire to be known

Even in moments of pain

Even in moments of turmoil

We don't have to put distance between

Pushing through relational distress

This is what love looks like