my prairie homeland
When I look at this picture I see so much.
I see five generations who’ve called it home.
I see farm implements eclipsed by time.
I see death-defying sledding hills.
I see prairie grasses dancing in the autumn sun.
I see white faced Herefords marching towards supper.
I see mama Meadowlark protecting her nest.
I see my hair whipping in the wind.
I see the ghosts of pony friends standing in the distance.
I see an endless sky.
When I look at this picture I see so much.
I see my childhood.
What do you see?
What a beautiful image. I see the big sky and the wide open spaces that I love. A lot of my favorite places in the western part of Colorado and Arizona and New Mexico have a similar look. You have room to BREATHE in that type of land!
Love your poetry! You have a gift, and it is my good fortune to have found your blog.
Thanks, as always!
Sheila
That’s exactly it — room to breathe! I can nearly smell the air and hear the wind in my ears when I look at this photo (it’s one of my favorites).
Thank you for your kind words, MJ
Great post and photo!
Thank you Leah; come visit again
MJ
After reading you comments, I see the land that you love.
you “got” it, Dianna … MJ
I see the foundation of our great country (and Canada). So much of our land has been turned into condos an strip malls. Love that you have this as a touchstone!
I do, and it’s wonderous to behold. To stand there at the entrance of those coulees and imagine what my ancestors saw when they arrived … takes my breath away. Thanks for weighing in, Renee
MJ
I grew up on a farm in Iowa. It’s green…everywhere, though I love land like this as well. Ultimately, I see the Creators hand at work in places like this one that you’ve shown us. The stars at night must be dazzling.
Thank you.
R
I hear you, Rich. Right now it’s very green there (this picture was taken in late October a few years back) but in autumn the harvest gold shines at it’s brightest. The land is open and wild and yes, like you I feel our Creator’s hand on the small of my back when I walk down those hills and head into wilderness. And you’re right about the stars … there are no words to describe them really. You really do feel like you can just reach up and touch them. With miles between our farm and the nearest town, there’s no artificial anything to drown out their brilliance. You simply must go … in the summer.
Cheers! MJ
I want you to know – I keep returning to this picture. I don’t see any one – or three things… I see so much, I smell so much, and I hear so much. I like your prairie land world, MJ.
Aww … well I am awfully happy to know that you “see” all there is to see there. I remember others who didn’t and I was offended. It’s such a rich, vast, open landscape and it makes my heart sing to know I will walk those coulees in a month … heading “home” for a week on the farm with my mom. Delicious.
Cheers! MJ