Ranch Life – Neil Meili

Neil Meili

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

Skip to content

Home
Contact
Neil’s Books
Poems
Kind Words
A Neil a Day Poems

Category: Ranch Life

Prairie Chicken

Audio Recordings, Farm, Nature, Ranch Life / tagged Birds, Courage, Survival / July 8, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

I came up through the valley where the homesteaders had tried to make a go of it for a few years, past the tin cans and other evidence of their short stay trying to rust itself back into the ground. Up over the crest of the hill where the Indians had lived for centuries with no more evidence than the weathered rocks of tepee rings

It was spring and I stumbled upon what they may have seen for centuries, the mating ceremony of about twenty-five or thirty grouse. They didn't see or hear me and I stopped about ten yards away and wathched (although my mother might not have thought it proper)

The hens ran around, heads down and tails up in unbashful invitation while the cocks puffed up the air bags in their chests and drummed their challenge

They looked handsome and brave in their posturing and beckoning and their readiness for reckoning and the fights were on, straight on and straight up with spurs and feathers flying

It was vicious but pure
Not a cockfight for the amusement of the bloody-minded, but a way to see that only the strongest would sire the little broods that would have to survive the hawks, and the snakes, and the weather; and all the dangers of a land where it takes a great deal of courage
- just to be a chicken

Grandpa’s Upstairs Porch

Audio Recordings, Family, Farm, Nature, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / tagged Siblings / June 28, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The only scenery was sky
the only light was lightning

Five of us sibled summer nights
blanketed against the cooling air

Watching storms from forever away
til they rained us to our beds

Farm Dog

Audio Recordings, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Death, Dogs, Farewell, Goodbye, Love, pets, Rules / June 23, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

My dad doesn't allow pets in the house
they weren't allowed in on the farm
where he grew up either

Once, when he was eight
the dog came up the stairs

down the hall to the room on the right
where his young mother lay dying

Laid his head for a moment on her lap
and went out again

The Question

Audio Recordings, Family, Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / tagged Connection, Conversation, Sharing / June 21, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

There's Dad sitting
by the after branding fire
with some after branding beers

And we get to talking
heart to heart
of trails together and apart

And of the things we saw
which one brought us awe

All They Survey

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Contentment, Pride / June 18, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

My father
would stand for hours
just looking at his cows

Like God leaning
on a rail fence in heaven
pleased with his creation

Co-Boss

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / June 17, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Co-boss. Co-boss
to call the Holstein home

Co-boss. Co-boss and she comes
in full-udder-rocking rhythm
along the well-trod pasture path

Steps careful into the shadows
and hoof clicks to the second stall
for the evening exchange of gifts

Relief and oats and hay for her
warm milk for the kittens and me
cream and butter for the kitchen

Co-boss. Co-boss to say
equal partners in a gently way

Only One Boss in the Corral

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Farm, Ranch Life / June 16, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

If you're in the corral at roundup time
you better be ready to think or listen fast

When half a tonw of fear-blind beef
has a horn lined up with your ass
and the boss says jump you jump

Democracy is a thing of beauty
but there's a time and a place for that

The Sunday-Go-Meeting Suit

Audio Recordings, Nostalgia, Ranch Life, Remembering / tagged Church, Clothing / June 14, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

It only took but one
and it usually came in brown
for marryin in and buryin in
and going off to town

The pants they came in twos
to double the life and use
each shining like an aura
from those well worn wooden pews

Spring in Moose Jaw

Audio Recordings, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Aging, Retirement / June 12, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

In the city
retired farmers still watch
the weather

In greening front yards
wooden ducks nailed to
white posts

Wings spinning
backwards

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

Post navigation

← Older posts

Search

Neil’s Latest Book Available in Paperback and Large Print Edition though Amazon worldwide

Social

View zencowboypoet’s profile on Facebook
View @meilineil’s profile on Twitter
View neilmeili’s profile on Instagram

Want More Poetry? Sign Up Here.

Sandi Hebley on Eagle Bone WhistleJuly 6, 2026
Beautiful!!
Sandi Hebley on The Merry Go Roller Coaster RoundJuly 2, 2026
*Sigh!*
Anonymous on The Merry Go Roller Coaster RoundJuly 2, 2026
Yes, those rides did end too soon!
Sandi Hebley on Learning from GrandparentsJune 30, 2026
🤗
Sandi Hebley on Grandpa and Hilda and the SnakeJune 29, 2026
Ahhh. The arc of true love!

Audio Recordings
Cattle
Cowboy Poetry
Cows
Environment
Family
Farm
Flight
Haiku
Limerick
Manure
Nature
News
Nostalgia
Personal Growth
Pilots
Poems about Poetry
Ranch Life
Relationships
Remembering
String Too Short To Save
Travel
Uncategorized

Tags

Aboriginal Aging Alcohol Art Art & Artists Autumn Beauty Birds Childhood Communication Connection Covid19 Death Dogs Dreams Faith Family Fear First Nations Friendship Gratitude Grief Healing Hope Horses Humor Loss Love Memory Mother Music Nature Perspective Poetry Prairie Psychology Ranch Life Regret Religion sensuality Solitude Spring War Winter Wisdom

©2015 Neil Meili. All Right Reserved.

Theme Designed By ThemeVan | Powered by WordPress

Loading Comments...

Write a Comment...

Email

Name

Website