Devil Bones

a clever force
corrupts our soul
finding bones
in layers of rock

giving pause
to wayward minds
deluding them
that man evolved

but faith endures
as science fails
for in our book
the truth is told

beware the men
in reason's grasp
they test our will
they steal our hope

Spring

the thaw begins
and fragrance spreads
a hint of green
where browns had ruled

what falls now soaks
a soup of life
and that which grows
restores the rest

lives begin
while others end
a season of hope
an unbroken chain

The Face of Evil

a vicious foe
ingrained in youth
a ghostly being
of evil born

we fear his voice
from down below
a call to join
his wretched league

for he exists
as villains do
to counter good
to crush our faith

so he and god
in struggle joined
to win our soul
for ever more

this vital war
pervades our life
this image forged
in sharp detail

alas we learn
in reason's light
this war unfolds
within our mind

Great Plains

rolling plains
of muted color
stretch beneath
a deep blue sky

land of wind
and violent weather
sun-drenched days
and star-filled nights

from the tallgrass
to the mountains
northern spruce
to southern pine

once a rich
and flowered prairie
grazed by bison
born of fire

now a realm
of quilted farms
of corn and wheat
and cattle raised

viewed by hawks
and vocal migrants
on their flights
above this land

endless vistas
greet the traveler
distant hills
and painted skies

Guilt

a human trait
this steady pain
questions asked
of choices made

enduring doubt
for what was done
for what could be
for what ignored

an endless wish
to change the past
to have done more
to have said less

some will never
shake its grip
this human vice
this selfish pain

Solitude

though social beings
we need our space
to clear our head
to charge our soul

for in our groups
we are not free
questions posed
attention sought

but some decline
to seek escape
their needs demand
a willing foil

and some condemn
our time alone
as if our needs
degrade their own

a threatened joy
this solitude
as others strive
to make us whole