Restless Winds

All too familiar March trail and street sweepers raise mile-high clouds of dust. But, nature's fearsome furies also whisper tales of yore and touch exquisite vistas across our enchanted lands.

Restless winds create elegant poetry,
Scribe universal truths with every gust,
Carve fine stanzas of sublime allegory
‘Cross timeworn dunes of gypsum dust.

Restless winds carry Passion prayers,
Dance on high Sangre de Cristo snows,
Scale Plaza Blanca walls into azure airs
On noiseless wings of hawks and crows.

Restless winds embrace Winged Rock,
Cherish Diné legends of this great bird,
Arouse bitter ghosts of The Long Walk
And Suffering Place far off the Blue Bead.

Restless winds forsake raw winter reign,
Frolic with Kokopelli across waxing Moon,
Usher imposing clouds to the Staked Plain
On thunderous chariot of merciful monsoon.

© Ilija Lukić 2014

Llano Estacado Escarpment

From tablelands at an elevation of 4900 feet above sea level, the Northern Llano Estacado Escarpment eases into the ancient Canadian River Plain south of San Jon, New Mexico USA

© Ilija Lukić 2014

Playground Of Wind, Rain, And Sun

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)

Fleeting Pulchritude

At first light the Llano Estacado prairie flaunts the crystalline aftermath of an overnight freezing fog--amazing albeit ephemeral beauty. The exquisite artistry of frost and light inspires poetry.

Nocturnal hosts of rimy minions spill
Their icy breath ‘cross age-old plain,
Scribe ethereal poetry upon the realm,
Fleeting artistry to herald winter’s reign.

© Ilija Lukić 2013

Country Road
(ulmus pumila aka Siberian Elm thicket)

Cactus On Ice
(Big Pad Prickly Pear Cactus)

Gnarly Siberian
(ulmus pumila aka Siberian Elm)

Sunny Respite
(Cooper)

Frosty Soliloquy
(yucca campestris aka Plains Yucca and Siberian Elm on the Llano Estacado)

Soft Pricklies
(cylindropuntia imbricata aka Cane Cholla)

Breath Of Winter
(ulmus pumila aka Siberian Elm)

Fleeting Pulchritude
(ulmus pumila aka Siberian Elm)

Scouting Sawtooth Daisy Loop
(Cooper)

Frosted Sunflower
(helianthus annuus aka Annual Sunflower)

Lost In Ice
(ulmus pumila aka Siberian Elm)

Thorny Cuddle Buddy
(cylindropuntia imbricata aka Cane Cholla)

Winter Cottontop
(digitaris californica aka Arizona Cottontop)

Frozen Tundra
(Cooper)

Frigid Enclave
(ulmus pumila aka Siberian Elm)

Sawtooth Daisy Loop

Crystal Palace
(cylindropuntia imbricata aka Cane Cholla)

Grassland Trail
(shortgrass prairie on the Llano Estacado near Clovis, New Mexico)

Winter Melody

Llano Winter Morning