Farm – Neil Meili

Neil Meili

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

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Category: Farm

Cowboy Poetry

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cowboy Poetry, Cows, Farm, Poems about Poetry, Ranch Life / April 6, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

This is not the poetry of pulling calves
in a cold wind and a foot or so of spring snow
with only a vest and a bottle of rye
to keep you dry

This
is the poetry
of that calf that would have died
standing on shaky legs
to drink warm milk
from the cow that would have died

Swearing Off

Audio Recordings, Cowboy Poetry, Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / April 4, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The 2019 Austin International Poetry Festival starts today! A warm welcome to all the incoming presenters and participants. This year Cowboy Poetry is making its debut at the festival with workshops by John Legacy and Steve Brooks on Saturday April 6th at the Learning Center at the Holiday Inn Midtown in Austin. Check www.AIPF.org for details.

The story was told by my old friend Bill
about a time when he was four
well maybe a little less, maybe a little more

Seems he’d been rubbin’ up against some boys in town
and learned some language that made his momma frown
His folks tried about everything from soap on down
but the lessons they were pouring in just didn’t stay down

Finally they said, now Billy my boy
the decision we’re makin’ gives us no joy
Because generally we like you, and you’re pretty good with your chores
but there’s no room on this ranch for language like yours

So, though it’s sure to make us grieve
we’ve packed your bag, and you’ll have to leave
They peeked through the curtains as he walked down the lane
with Dad remindin’ Mom that some lessons have pain

Billy stood at the road for 20 minutes or more
then slowly trudged back and knocked on the door
They slipped from the window and opened it slow
he said

“where in the hell am I supposed to go?”

2 Replies

How I Lost My Faith – In Preachers

Farm, Ranch Life, Travel / March 24, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

t was a cold and muddy Sunday
Our little caravan of Christians
children, parents and student minister
stuck in the spring mud a mile from church

Me and city cousin Wayne
the chosen ones at age seven
chosen to walk
to the nearest neighbour
while the others wait in the cars

The neighbor’s not home
but his Cockshutt 40 tractor is

Some combination of farm boy bravado
and reluctance to slog
back to the cars in defeat
comes out as "I can drive a tractor!"

One foot each on the clutch
and a good deal of grinding
gets us into low gear
and off at about two miles per

The student minister meets us
two thirds of the way back

As our leader
in all things spiritual and practical
he decrees that we are going
far too slow
and selects another gear
(probably at random, he’s from the city too)

The one he picks is the fastest
known in these parts as “Road Gear”
and we quickly accelerate to thirty

which causes the preacher to panic
(or remember that he forgot his bible)
and leap off

leaving us to wrestle the big red monster
now wildly careening from rut to rut
and rocketing toward the mired cars
and fearful families

Wrenching the wheel to the right
at the last possible moment
we narrowly avoid death and destruction
and stall to a stop in the water-filled ditch
amidst the prayers of the congregation

2 Replies

The Crocus

Audio Recordings, Farm, Nature, Ranch Life / March 23, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Loud crows and bright robins
promise an early spring

But they are of the sky
and can be easily fooled

Only the crocus
knows

1 Reply

Jeep

Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / March 12, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Dad had a Willy’s Jeep
That took us to school for a while

In the wet it was wet, in the cold it was cold

Our baby teeth bounced from our jaws
And bruises covered every bum

We knew that it was built for war - it felt like war

1 Reply

Three Draft Horses

Farm, Ranch Life / March 9, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

On the ranch, ride before you walk
with big sister's brave behind my scared

Grandfather's big Clyde, top as wide as a table

The jackhammer hoofed plug at Al's in Idaho
while Dorsey gets to ride the silk-paced Arab
Chivalry is not dead, but it has a sore ass

May they all chomp
the hay of heaven while I flesh them out again

1 Reply

Mother’s Poem

Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / tagged International Women's Day / March 8, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

It’s International Women’s Day and I’m thinking of the many wonderful and accomplished women I am blessed to have in my life.

The kitchen has always been the center
of the universe of any farm or ranch

She feeds their sleepy forms in morning
clothes them for the cold or warm
and prays them safe from harm

Looks out her window to the east
where barn shadows and rolling hills
greet them as they start their day

Men in firm direction to their work
children scattering to play

Then south across the lake to catch
the water’s mood foretelling wind or calm

Sometimes
sees in morning
mirages of cutbanks rising
like mountains along the Eastern shore

Or more directly to the south
forms of her old neighbor’s homes
rising and shimmering
like memories of her youth

Seasons spiral out and in from this center
crocus and buttercups in the greening grass
cactus flowers and the joy of newborn calves

The growing season of the grain
and golden glory of a well stooked field

The shortening of days into winter
and the ever present stars
joined by the dance
of northern lights

Within each season she has watched
the play of seasons of each day
men return from roundup
children from their play

While she waits always at the center
to warm and love and feed

and safely tuck away — Mom and brother Wally in the ranch kitchen 1952

Shelter Belt

Audio Recordings, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Winter / March 3, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The job of the trees
is to stop the snow

If they wish
to turn green
in the summer
and play with birds
no one will object

Neighborly

Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / tagged Interdependence / January 22, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Neighbourly
On gravel roads
there are three tracks not four

Nobody gets to pass anybody
without noticing that they’re there

Courtesy and survival still
well entwined out where folks are few

1 Reply

Memories of Three or Four

Audio Recordings, Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / January 14, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

1 Reply

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