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Posts from the ‘John Reedy’ Category

7
May

3-15

John Reedy Photo

1
May

Driftin 2

John Reedy Photo

19
Apr

Driftin 1

John Reedy Photo

16
Apr

Snowfence

John Reedy Photo

10
Apr

[SWATHER POEM]

Red and yellow swather
stands wheel-deep in purple knapweed
waiting patiently for its hay day.

Cab and colors
reminiscent of a Route 66 motel
lacking Space Age styling
(the opposite of aerodynamic)
down-to-earth
earth-bound
grounded.

A backward-looking afterthought
a retrofitted concept
stalling out when it became hopelessly handy
and form was forced to follow function.
A waspy outfit,
delicate but deadly,
ready source for rural legend.

Grim Reaper to rodents and snakes
crawling slowly
surprisingly quietly
scything low through the cool, dark growth
providing field days for birds and wary ranch dogs
thrilled with the indiscriminate harvest.

Cowboys who consider this
too much farming
are still lulled by the symmetrical, rhythmic
wander
through the tall grass
tolerating
appreciating the deep seated satisfaction
to stock and store
to make hay while the sun shines
saving some of summer’s essence in a hope chest
to be opened in the attic of a cold dark winter.

                                                by John Reedy

7
Apr

SHE ALWAYS MISSED THE RAIN

                                                                                                            (song lyrics)

The Russell light fills the bowl with shadows
Canada spills its cold on down
The snows over Idaho settle on the willows
Drifting over stubble covered ground

She left with the fires of August burning
Sheʼs back where skies are cloudy all day
Romance torn on barbed wire fences
She always missed the rain

Tilting at enemies not hard to find
Nostalgia for what never happened
Shotgun holes in all the signs
Canʼt remember when the happy ended

Black horse planted long ago
The sorrel gelding turning gray
The clouds build behind Bull Mountain
She always missed the rain

Truth covered over by the sin of pride
Forcing you to choose a side
Always wondering which is the lie
Hidden under a clear blue sky

Too old to sing that worried song
Dreams wrung out by men disguised
In a place settled way too long
Simple wrongs obscured by rights

Fear twisted to look like strength
Itʼs hard to stand alone in this country
Thin wire stretched miles wide
Wish for difference in the same story

Sun sets early in the west
Winters long on short days
Metal roofs drip off nightʼs frost
She always missed the rain

                                        by John Reedy