Sight and Sound

A small pasture lies
east of the ranch house 
covered with wild flowers
and an occasional mouse.

Tall long stemmed yellows 
reds of various hues
clumps of bright whites  
small ground hugging blues.

Cacti with fragile flowers
red, yellow, and peach
protected by sharp thorns
to prick and teach.

The smells all around
wild onions, flowers, trees  
noises in the air
rustling grasses, birds, bees.

Amongst all this beauty
and quite natural sounds
nature does its duty 
peace and tranquility abounds.



Spring Colors

Signs that
West Texas Spring has arrived.
Scenes of
trees alive with new foliage.
Surrounded by
carpets of bright yellow flowers.
Stirred by
swirls of blues and reds.
Scanned by
black vultures slowly circling above.
Soaring in
a clear bright blue sky.
Scattered with
fluffy white cotton ball clouds.



Old Oak

Out all alone
One old oak
Goat comes along
Branch gets broke.

Ancient old oak
Still stands tall
Green in summer
Greener in fall.

Sit in shade
Search the ground
Acorns, future trees
Scattered all around.

Haven for birds
Cardinal so red
Jay bright blue
Vulture hunting dead.

Never really alone
Life all around
Birds on branches
Critters on ground.



Our Backyard

Small yellow and white honeysuckle
 fragrant bouquets and sweet nectar.
  
Yellow and orange prickly pear cactus 
 bright green paddles and sharp needles.

Pale green flowers of the yucca 
clustered on six foot tall spires.

Tiny purple wild onions
sweet yet pungent odor.

Mix all these in with the mesquite and cedar 
and the senses are brought to life
in our little backyard full of flowers and smells.   



Meteor

Clear clean sky on a cold winter night
Millions of stars far away from the city's light.
Suddenly from Orion a meteor flashes
Hurtling toward Earth with a bright yellow flame.
Gone, in a instant, as suddenly as it came.



Night Walk

Cool clear moonless night
Far from the city's light.
Stars shining oh so bright.

Walking the dogs with care
But they seem so unaware,
As to why I stop and stare.

Flying high above the ground
A manmade star flying round,
Tonight several to be found.

High above this tranquil scene
Flashing lights, red and green,
An airplane not heard, just seen.

The silence broken by a sound
The dogs heads rapidly turn round,
Rabbit running across the ground.

As it disappears from sight
Quiet returns to the night,
Stars still shining oh so bright.