Poetry Of Spirit And Light

Monday, March 12, 2012

Buffalo Rock Requiem

The vast tablelands of the Llano Estacado inspire wonder. They humble my spirit and cultivate introspection. The horizons are endless. Every rise I get the better of gets me closer to the northern Llano Escarpment. In an unexpected way the fusion of earth and sky breaks apart. I stand at the the caprock precipice where the Llano Estacado tumbles into the Canadian River Plain. Open cattle range and mile upon mile of monotonous agricultural furrows give up the ghost to craggy windblown cliffs, canyons carved by raging thunderstorm runoff, piñon and juniper habitat, and a myriad of wildlife.

I find a descent trail and work my way down the rugged terrain. Before me looms Buffalo Rock. The late afternoon light spills across its broken face and engages the spirit of the rock. The promontory and weathered rubble below transform into a rough hewn image of an American Bison. The imposing icon of the Great Plains struggles to rise from its knees. Blood soaked earth spreads from its once majestic stature. He is the last of his wild bunch. A Comanche warrior leans at its side and chants a requiem lamenting the beast’s less than dignified demise at the hands of unscrupulous buffalo hunters.

Buffalo Rock

Llano Breaks

Comanche Requiem

Yucca Tribe

Caprock Lookout

Always Close The Gate

Endless Horizon

Furrows Bereft Of Rain

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Rainy Day Blues

Rain splatters on roofs and mixes with slushy snow. Not a breath of wind to ruffle fruit tree blossoms. Water droplets in all manner of sizes form pearls of dew on drought-weary vegetation. The earth and every living thing upon it revel in glorious wet stuff. A palpable, albeit small sigh of relief reverberates across the Llano Estacado.

What do you do on a rainy day? Cooper snoozes lost in dreams of roaming on the prairie. I cozy up to a warm fire, read, drift into day dreams and eventually succumb to rainy day blues. Every now and then we venture into the mizzle draping our town. Cooper ensures his feathered yard buddies remember who rules his dominion. I find allure in the wringing-wet terms of endearment lavished onto daffodils and pear blossoms. Language arts in the recesses of my mind whisper Daffodil, Narciso, Нарциса, Narzisse, Δαφοδελος, and Jonquille. A big smile besets my heretofore somber countenance. I shake off last remnants of rainy day blues. This liquid sunshine is a Godsend.

What Do You Do On A Rainy Day?

Afternoon Snooze (Cooper)

Rainy Daydreams (Cooper)

Terms Of Endearment

Narciso

Wet Surrender

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Passion For Life

One day past the Nones and eight before the Ides of March, I awaken to the racket of gale force winds howling at the skylights. Blustery 40-50 mph north winds announce the arrival of White Owl Woman and her beloved minions of snow and penetrating cold. Denizens of the Llano Estacado tablelands brace for a thrashing. A glance at the back yard thermometer confirms it’s forty degrees colder than yesterday.

Wind gusts raze delicate pear blossoms and lavish blankets of white petals onto lawns. Petals mixed with remnants of dried autumn foliage form hodgepodge drifts along the leeward side of our abode. Cooper and I venture into the breath of Aeolus and wind-driven pear blossom flurries. Cooper is content to chase birds. I revel in the beauty wrought by chaos. I am delighted to find that blossoms in the wind shadow of trees tenaciously cling to life. They continue their spring ritual. I am passionately curious. I drink from the well of inspiration their example of perseverance provides. I allow my heart to feel what my eyes see. When I look deeply into nature. I understand everything, better.

Enlightenment

Spring Hodgepodge

Aphid Shelter

Wellspring Of Inspiration

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Rites Of Spring

On the western exposure of our home first Daffodils join the pear blossom chorus to usher in spring airs. Notwithstanding its sunny disposition and benevolent heart, this golden oldie of spring tends to strut vainly and obsess over its beauty, yet whispers of unrequited love. Go hug a Daffodil.

Unseasonably balmy breezes and azure skies entice Cooper and me away from garden splendors and out onto the open Llano Estacado prairie. Our township’s annual pear bloom is only days away from full grandeur. Pockets of pageantry line our route.

Within minutes the Llano Estacado embraces our sojourn with her lyrical ballads of flora, fauna, light, and sounds. Let me set the stage. The first blush of green pushes into the dried prairie straw. Mellow mallows, baby thistles, and other barely noticeable emerald sprouts of flora defy drought conditions. Even the mighty breath of Aeolus does not deter carpets of Filaree from their appointed bloom. Life will not be denied.

A Western Meadowlark atop a weathered yucca stalk greets us with a passionate soprano solo of triumph over winter wiles. This out of the ordinary prairie minstrel proudly sports a black “V” for victory sign emblazoned on its vibrant yellow chest. A muster of crows in nearby Siberian Elms joins to lend their gnarly tenor cacophony to the song of joy. Canada Geese launching off the waters of a nearby playa lake cannot contain their sanction of the show’s sentiments. As their wedges head north they honk their approval. Lest the merrymaking descend into chaos, a Northern Harrier in his role as usher keeps order with slow passes over the celebrants. Underfoot, Harvester Ants unseal their winter nest and in a silent yakety-yak try to make sense of the ruckus.

On our way home we pass a dole of Mourning Doves perched on telephone wires. They remain skeptical. Their soft, drawn-out laments of woe-me, woe-me remind prairie denizens that White Owl Woman still dawdles to the north, ready to swoop in with her gelid minions.

My quest for light, nature’s artistry and inspiration satisfied, I leave the prairie elated.

Spring Airs

Spill The Beans (yucca campestris)

Rites Of Spring

Silent Yakety-Yak (pogonomyrmex rugosus)

Prairie Samba

First Signs Of Spring (Siberian Elm)

Golden Oldie

Mellow Mallow (sphaeralcea coccinea)

Lofty Dreams

Unrequited Love

Breath Of Aeolus

Baby Thistle Lullaby

Benevolent Heart

Pear Blossom Chorus

Sun Quest (El Llanero Viejo)

Life

Life Will Not be Contained

Rain Vigil (yucca campestris)

Mr Cooper

Rock 'N' Roll Ballad

Celebrate Life

Cup Of Sunshine

Friday, March 2, 2012

Dances Of The Heart

My shutter finger finds it impossible to rest. Images of spring renewal on the Llano Estacado abound. In defiance of almost daily wind storms we endure, delicate pear flowers cinch the coveted lead role in our annual spring extravaganza. These hardy harbingers provide a glimpse of hope for better days ahead. Elusive winter joy has turned to enticing dances of the heart.