Poems about Poetry – Neil Meili

Neil Meili

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

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Category: Poems about Poetry

A Prairie Villanelle

Audio Recordings, Farm, Nostalgia, Poems about Poetry, Ranch Life, Relationships, Remembering, Travel / June 11, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

If prairie wheels again had I
I'd chew the gravel and the air
with prairie roads to fly

I'd plume the earth into the sky
to show them I was there
if prairie wheels again had I

Past places where dead neighbours lie
I'd not linger who would dare
with prairie roads to fly

Dust to dust gets in your eye
I'd look for other things to share
if prairie wheels again had I

Then greener farmyards I'd pass by
in mem-mirages free of care
with prairie roads to fly

I'd roll past all that makes you cry
afloat in sunsets clear and fair
if prairie wheels again had I
with prairie roads to fly

What the Hell Villanelle

Poems about Poetry / June 10, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

I thought, oh what the hell
since everything is but a dance
I'll just write a villanelle

Though I may not ronde half so well
as the spinning peasants of old France
I thought, oh what the hell

Left footed stories I can tell
though you might laugh I'll take a chance
I'll just write a villanelle

Though it may not cast young Dylan's spell
around his father's fierce-teared glance
I thought, oh what the hell

Though it may not a million copies sell
it may win your love perchance
I'll just write a villanelle

It may not toll Gray's churchyard knell
others have failed in that romance
I thought, oh what the hell
I'll just write a villanelle

Photo by Federica Giusti on Unsplash

1 Reply

Judy

Audio Recordings, Poems about Poetry, Relationships / tagged Death, Grief, Jealousy, Regret, Suicide / June 1, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Judy was a beauty
tall and blonde and shy
early this month she decided to die

The soft wise eyes, the curling lashes
all now ashes

We have been friends for twenty years
hugs and coffee when in town, cards when far away

And always the latest poetry

She said it was important, and it touched her
in places nothing and no one else could reach

Three years ago
I put my neck in a green-eyed noose

I sent no cards, I did not call

I do not know if I could have saved her
though touch and poetry have been known to

I only know I hate what I did and didn't do
I only know that she drowned out there alone
I only know it was a long time since I had thrown her a line

1 Reply

Wisdom

Audio Recordings, Personal Growth, Poems about Poetry, Relationships / May 17, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

I met a man I had not met
for fifty years or maybe more

Neither I nor the man I met
were the man we'd been before

I had never met the wise man
He had never met the poet

For Archbishop James Weisgerber; aka Father Jim during years at Athol Murray’s Notre Dame College Photo: Holy Rosary Cathedral – Regina, Saskatchewan

1 Reply

Inscrutable

Haiku, Poems about Poetry / tagged Art & Artists / April 23, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Reaching not reaching
the heart of the Orient
syllables too few

Birth of Haiku

Audio Recordings, Haiku, Poems about Poetry / April 17, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Basho oh Basho
frog's leap kissing water
wakens the prince

One for the Patient Poets

Audio Recordings, Haiku, Poems about Poetry / April 16, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

How long the frog waits
for a pond worthy enough
to leap for Basho

Tree Happy

Audio Recordings, Nature, Poems about Poetry / April 13, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

A tree happy as sprink
A poet
with pen and empty page

Could it be
the need to seed
sweeter than the fruit will be

Poets in Springtime

Audio Recordings, Nature, Poems about Poetry / tagged Easter, Hope, Rebirth / April 5, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

It is not the job of the poet
to speak of spring in the springtime

The task is to gather
the cool winds of April
to freshen your face in July

And all through the fallings of fall
and all through the dyings of winter

And all through the long days of Lent
all through the pain of the Friday
reminding us always of Sunday

War No More

Audio Recordings, Poems about Poetry / tagged Conflict, Fodder, Military, Peace, Replacements, War / February 27, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

He wanted to end all wars
by stepping out of the killing line
to write a poem that would stop it all

Surprised to find how fast
the next steps up and the line moves on

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Sandi Hebley on What the Hell VillanelleJune 10, 2026
Had to go look up “villanelle.” 😏
Sandi Hebley on The AlbumsJune 6, 2026
💕 I love our old albums!
Sandi Hebley on JudyJune 1, 2026
😢 Hugs!
Kimberly Heinrich on The Other WellMay 31, 2026
Neil: THANK YOU for this!! Love it!! You are the best!!!💕💕
Sandi Hebley on Timmy’s Down the WellMay 29, 2026
🤗 Love this!

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