A Touch Of Winter

It's high noon with 20º F temperatures and wind chills near zero. Snowfall has stopped but cloud cover persists. Cooper and I venture unto the Llano Estacado tablelands. He romps on the blanket of down White Owl Woman dropped during her passage across our Southern Great Plains neighborhood. I take time to identify spoor of prairie denizens crisscrossing my trail and enjoy the artistry of the winter wonderland. My beard proves an invaluable defense against the razor sharp winter airs. One hour of activity tests our limits of exposure to the raw environment and we head back to a waning albeit warm fire on our home hearth.

© Ilija Lukić 2014

The Home Stretch
(Cooper)

Whispers Of Spring

Gray geese alight cautiously
Then huddle on sheets of ice,
Cold playa lake crackles lightly,
Implores release from gelid vise.

Blue skies stretch unto horizon,
Caress virgin snows on mesas,
Where on breath of ancient bison
Whispers stir of green praderas.

Coyote lopes ‘cross flaxen seas,
Pursues rabbit hell-bent on flight,
Downslope winds sway piñon trees,
Arroyos dream of turbulent delight. 

Rowdy crows give raucous chase,
Lone hawk eludes on heavy wing,
Sandstone cliffs forgo wintry solace
To sunlight kisses that herald spring.

© Ilija Lukić 2014

American Robin
(turdus migratorius)