In the slow, urgent cadence of cattle, the black cows move again across a landscape of yellow grass and snow to where they last heard the familiar bawl, dumb to all but ache— whether of teat or heart we men cannot know, though we watch and have had familiar loves that for a summer of … Continue reading Weaning
The Nature of Josiah Smith
In the spring OC arrived to see how “the fool’d wintered.” He found an empty cabin with the diary open on the rough log bench to a page dated February 12. The entry was, “The onliest hunt that matters is a man hunt. Going hunting.”
The Mis-Making of A Fourth of July Band
His flute was capable of other wonderful sounds, even whole orchestras of lovely sound. But whatever the sheet music told him and wand-waver orchestrated, Ole Clive always managed to make sure C6-very-sharp was one of the sounds his flute managed to tweet.
Irrigator’s Prayer
Water, you would say to me, is God and kneel to touch your lips to water and water softened soil and with your ever thirst suck deep within you the body and the blood of the only holy you could will your love— I have never had Another and will not. Though I sup at … Continue reading Irrigator’s Prayer
A Man in Search of a Squirrely Dictionary
Most people familiar with the squirrel, think of a bushy tail and backyard bird feeder robbery. The squirrels of most urbanite’s experience nest in trees and scold other people for the most innocuous behavior. They are very territorial and have been known to yell at people for no more apparent reason than that the person … Continue reading A Man in Search of a Squirrely Dictionary
The Shaman in the Cave
Here in the silence, the smoldering dark, breathing the smoke of smothering, the odor of smoke and grave earth mingling, he moves his ocher wand. The bull is earth and mind. His terror at what he makes is less than the joy, much less than who have just left mother above to find this bull … Continue reading The Shaman in the Cave
Two Minds, Same House
She prays: “the rainbow— It's the full promise of god!” He sniffs the wet earth. In response to the Ragtag Daily Prompt word: petrichor. And the Word of the Day Challenge kin .
A Day Too Cold for Goat
Sometimes I wish I never opened that parcel that mom gave me for Halloween. So, I was glad to see the way it was on Sunday. It was gray and cold all day. The wind was cold. It shook the trailer and scratched the branch of the dead cottonwood back and forth across the window. … Continue reading A Day Too Cold for Goat
First Snow: Haiku
Snowing. Grass stems bow the only sounds: hissing wind And last summer’s chime
Goat does not Go to the Sadie Hawkins Dance
The Saturday after Halloween is the Sadie Hawkins Dance. Its when the girls ask the guys out. It always starts with a big bonfire out at the River Park, and people throw dolls and stuff on it. The fire is just a excuse so nobody has to go pick anybody up for the date. Part … Continue reading Goat does not Go to the Sadie Hawkins Dance
