Sunday, March 14, 2010

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