Blog Archives

Old Warrior

Born of the people,
Learning to live off the land.
As a boy, he learned a warrior’s ways
And grew to be a man.

Strong Bow hunted Tatanka, the buffalo,
With both bow and lance.
He guided his horse among the headlong rush,
Killing meat to feed the people when he got a chance.

He had wooed and won a pretty maiden’s hand,
Who became his wife.
They lived and loved while moving freely on the land,
Following a nomad’s life.

He danced with fellow warriors,
Circling the fire around.
War drums beat the rhythm,
And many moccasined feet beat tattoos on the ground.

That was when he was young and powerful,
A mighty warrior to behold.
He was fast and furious back then, many moons ago.
Now he was gray and old.

Strong Bow sat on his aging war horse atop a hill.
His shoulders slumped forward with his head hung down.
Cold winds blew around him,
Making the only sound.

The old warrior’s face smiled lamely.
It was a good day to die,
And soon his spirit would depart,
Taking wings to fly.

Cold wind knifed through his buckskins
Into his old body both weak and frail.
Strong Bow closed his eyes and softly sang his death song,
Having reached the end of his trail.

DSC_0471

(Note: The above poem is a result of my thoughts that were evoked by this artwork.)

The Dancers

Through ancient shifting sands of time,

Two souls interlocked sublime,

Dancing in ecstasy to continuous unheard music,

Like sand falls endlessly through the hourglass of Time.

My Epitaph

Gaze upon this empty shell

But shed no tear

For it served me well.

 

There were many things

It couldn’t do

So I’ve slipped it off

Like a well-worn shoe.

 

When I wore it,

There was pain…

It got burned by the sun

And soaked by the rain.

 

When it got old,

It couldn’t run

Or hop and skip

Or dance in fun.

 

Chairs and beds

Had to be arranged

To keep it warm

When the weather changed.

 

Its hair thinned out,

And its eyes grew dim…

A burst of energy was

But a dreamy whim.

 

The body grew wrinkled,

But the brain increased.

Knowledge and wisdom expanded

As mobility ceased.

 

Life’s run is over now.

The spirit seeks a better place.

Time for the old body to rest,

But, wow, what a race!

Chakras

This comes from Autumn Leaves:

I am —

Pulsating,

Vibrating,

Lotus lit,

Flowing,

Calmly free,

Energy forces,

Dancing light,

Centered,

Waiting

To Be.

Cowboy Heaven

This poem comes from Autumn Leaves:

 

The cowboys are gone,

At least so I hear.

“Not so,” said my friend,

“Lend me your ear.”

 

Acting very quickly

On my friend’s good advice,

I went to Cowboy Heaven

And did a double take — twice.

 

The dance hall was crowded,

And, folks, I will swear

There were cowboys and cowgirls

Dancing everywhere.

 

One tall wrangler

Stood out so stark…

He wore a neon hatband

That glowed in the dark.

 

He wore an oilskin outbacker

That reached his boot tops.

He was sweating and stomping

To fast country pop.

 

Another short puncher

Cam shufflin’ along.

He was dressed up for dancin’

And bad-to-the-bone.

 

He wore a flannel checkered shirt

While his partner wore lace.

His huge belt buckle shone.

Mascara ran down her face.

 

Another wrangler came driftin’ by

Wearing sandals and socks.

He bellied up to the bar

And ordered Schnapps on the rocks.

 

It sounded like thunder

As boots shook the floor.

They did the Boot Scootin’ Boogie

And were anxious for more.

 

One huge cowgirl

Dancing and struttin’ around

Must have weighed in

At three hundred pounds.

 

She and her puncher

Were having a fling.

She was large enough

To rope steer with a string.

 

The music was so loud

My nerves were a-tingling.

This one rowdy romped by…

His spurs were a-jingling.

 

Cowboy Heaven, Do-si-dos,

Electric Slide, and Cotton-eyed Joe,

Achy Breaky, sweat and strain,

Cowboys and cowgirls feelin’ no pain.

 

The music slowed down…

You could even hear the tune.

Some crooner was singing

About a Neon Moon.

 

Why did I worry myself

About the cowboys being gone?

They’re all at the Cowboy Heaven,

And they’ve all found a home.

Life

These thoughts come from Autumn Leaves:

 

The marvel of life…

Like the unfolding petals of the rose,

Awakening to greet the first warm rays of the morning sun.

 

The marvel of life…

Like a microscopic speck mingled in the cosmic dust of the universe,

Dawdling and dancing to the muted dreams of eternity.

 

The marvel of life…

Toiling unceasingly with the aspirations of its gender,

Gathering the wisdom of the ages, dreaming the dreams of by-gone eras.

 

The marvel of life…

Growing hot, waxing brighter in the pursuit of achievement,

Yet, when suppressed and thwarted constantly by unknown forces,

Flickers and finally dies.

Controlled Strings

This thought comes from Autumn Leaves:

 

Life, like a marionette,

One breath, one step, one day at a time,

Dancing to monotonous music, but—

Who controls the lines?

%d bloggers like this: