Released Life Forces

The awesome wonder of spring rebirth across the northern reaches of Llano Estacado tablelands inspires introspection. Listen to the whispers of awakenings, they reveal secrets of the universe.

Prairie winds listen

As life wakes on cactus trails

Burnt earth mother speaks

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Released Life Forces
Santa Fe, New Mexico USA

Gran Quivira Medleys

Upon keen winds born of frosty sighs,

Down pine and aspen covered slope,

Manzano peaks bear sonorous witness

Of Gran Quivira and lifetimes of hope.

Echoes linger briefly on familiar stage,

Ancient salinas and pueblos of stone.

Then prairie breath imbued with sage

Wings east cross cactus and pale bone.

At Río Pecos hear thirst-quenched chants

Of lost conquistadores and Apaches bold.

There songs of outlaws and land grants 

Join lonesome cowboy melodies of old.

Whispers on winds from distant mountains

Crave an ear and for songsters they long.

Their tales find voice on the Staked Plains--

Gran Quivira medleys in meadowlark song.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Acoma Pueblo

The ebb and flow of inspiration for prose and poetry is not easily explained. Yesterday morning during a prairie outing with Cooper, contrails of jets departing the Albuquerque Sunport stirred a tribute of the enduring Acoma Pueblo cultures in New Mexico. The words did not fall into place until the stroke of midnight.

Sky people write ethereal stories

Of Aa'ku, Hakukya, and Haak'u

Across an azure celestial sphere.

Take heart, they herald a new dawn

Of ancient songs and spirit journeys,

Quests for the place that always was.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Comet Pan-STARRS

Comet Pan-STARRS beckons and I oblige with an evening sojourn onto the Llano Estacado. Grazing range cattle interspersed with foraging antelope give the tablelands north of our hamlet a serene pastoral ambience. Away from city lights I hope to catch a glimpse of the faint celestial traveler just above the western horizon. A thin crescent of Moonlight guides my search. Sunset-illuminated skies prove to be difficult light conditions for comet photography.

Thirty minutes after sunset the air temperature plummets into the thirties. Somewhere in the dark a cow bellows desperate calls to her calf. Nearby coyotes bark and yip. The barks suggest they object to my presence. I take one last measure of the primal scene and iconic sounds of the American West. It’s time to wrap up my photo quest. As I depart down the ranch access road, my headlights illuminate several pairs of coyote eyes before they vanish into the prairie night.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Comet Pan-STARRS
Broadview, New Mexico USA