Friday, June 12, 2009

POETRY FRIDAY



Today's roundup is being held by Brian Jung at Critique de Mr. Chompchomp. Go check it out!

And here's my contribution, in honor of the South Dakota trip -- a poem from an anthology entitled COWBOY POETRY MATTERS, edited by Robert McDowell, which we picked up at a great little used bookstore on the main drag in Custer.

Cowboy poetry is not just all about riding the range. There's some really wonderful poems included here. Like this one:

Ashes, After Fire

by Andy Wilkinson

I've seen the bluestem, stirrup-deep,
Become a blackened pyre,
A wasteland, buried in the heap
Of ashes, after fire.

The old, dead grass goes up in smoke,
The wind howls in the wire,
What was, is gone, deep in the cloak
Of ashes, after fire.

Yet quick, so quick, the ranges wear
Their spanking new attire,
As tender grass grows in the care
Of ashes, after fire.

Though alchemists have lost their call
Their magics still inspire
Gold seekers in the grimy pall
Of ashes, after fire.

Beautiful, isn't it? Can't you just see that prairie covered in new growth? Love it.

4 comments:

  1. I love the line about the ranges wearing "their spanking new attire"--sounds so 'cowboy'.

    And, I'm just catching up on blogs--I can't believe you went to the Ingalls' homestead!!! That is unbelievably awesome!

    sf

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  2. Okay, give me a pair of boots! Love the refrain and rhythm here. There is something undeniably beautiful in acknowledging loss and rebirth.

    This is the power of these roundups: discovering works you would not have found on your own.

    Thank you very much.

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  3. I featured this form because it is unique to America. I am not arguing it defines America. :-)

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  4. i'VE ADMIRED cOWBOY POETRY FOR AWHILE. PAIRIE HOME COMPANION HAS HAD SOME GREAT READING IN THE PAST ON THE RADIO. ASHES,AFTER THE FIRE MAKES ME RECALL A WONDERFUL SUSIE PATLOVE POEM TITLE, THE FIRST CUTTING. LOOK FOR IT ONLINE IN THE WRITER'S ALMANAC WEB ARCHIVE, JAN. 17, 2009.
    NICE TO BE BACK VISTING YOUR BLOG,
    SR

    ReplyDelete

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