2/07/07

I have been re-working my rock poem. I sent it off to a wonderful poet who tells me what she thinks. Here is the revised edition, with an additional verse.

Hope you like it.

rock on a hill

there’s a sandstone outcropping on a hill by a creek
fighting the slow erosion of natures careless whims
it has been a silent witness to the passing of ages
watching and listening to the prairies soft hymns

an indian once stood on this wind roughened rock
as he prayed to his god for his tribes way of life
with alien, guttural, beseeching tone
for his tribe, this land, children and wife

a trapper once lay in the shade of this slope
bellied down tight in the grass and the dirt
as he peered over the rock laying there in the soil
ignored the pain and the blood encrusted stain on his shirt

a soldier once climbed to the crest of this hill
reclined on the rock seeking rest for his bones
eavesdropped on his troops by the creek down below
as they wearily set up pickets and tents in hushed tones

a cowboy stepped down at the ridge of this crest
scanned all, from horizon, to the rock down below
watching for the cattle that were under his care
allowing his weary cow horse to stretch and to blow

a homesteader ascended to the top of this ridge
looking for his milk cow who had failed to return
silently cursing this god forsaken land
and the blistering hot sun that made his crops burn

on occasion a rancher will come to this rock
he rests and reflects on the land’s history
wonders if others may have come to this spot
feels tied to the thread of a grand mystery

Robert Dennis 2/07

thoughts? Comments? 🙂