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Prairie Peace
Sky touches the prairie level with my eye
that I am permitted to see so far I am grateful.
I am complete.
Prairie indulges its own
loneliness seems far away
the trail narrowing and straight
invites me with assurance of favor.
Wind lifts the spirit
calls to the strong
consoles the weak.
And hawk is free.
A marsh follows the rain
dew drops cling to the wild rose
and glisten in the rays of fading day.
My soul is calmed.
Meadowlark serenades, few sounds are many
winds still out of respect
the sun falls from the table of my place
lullaby ends. Silence embraces the dark.
Larry Lee Jorgenson
Tatanka
Majestic, stately, not ignoble
Tatanka lies waiting
legs extended
eye open skyward
side stiff, not rising.
Wolves hold forth
eagles feast, coyotes sneak.
Dignity preserved
homage given
Circle complete. Sun sets in honor.
Man’s cruel aim
supplants bestial hunger
entrails of hope reduce to fruits of greed
disquiet selfishness reins
A child weeps.
My heart is pierced, my spirit slain
I am diminished, dishonor and shame befall me
hope fades beyond tomorrow
I wail.
Sun sets without peace.
Larry Lee Jorgenson
PLACE
Brook whispers
wings above
leaves below
join without command.
Pebbles cleansed and with purpose
shine beneath water glistening
bathed by sunlight
filtered by arrayed branches.
Sentinel flowers speak
restoring my marrow
planting thoughts
swaying my soul.
Seasons pass
leaves fall
flocks waive
a spirit remains.
Peaceful here
prayer softly spoken seeks oneness
I will be still
please let me stay.
Larry Lee Jorgenson
BEE AND CALF
Today, on my way in this busy world, I stopped to hear the bawl of the calf whose mother grazes in springtime speak to my inner self as a sound of almost silence, especially when the noise of man is compared, and the bawling of the calf and the buzz of the bee in a wild flower and sage gift to me a thankful heart not so easily arising in my other world; but I must not dally too long here, for I have people to see, commissions to make and places to go, but I heard the bee and the calf today, and they have refreshed my spirit.
Larry Lee Jorgenson
INNOCENCE
In a child’s mind
I hope to be again
with shrouds of stars
sun bright days
loving faces
grace and beauty
fascination with all seen
the moment conquering that
which isn’t.
Larry Lee Jorgenson
THE POND
Mollusks, crustaceans, insect larva abandoning
polluted, greenish rot of once good still receives from the
tree the small, showy, bobbing Bufflehead
dressed mostly white, little black, not intruding
as he squeals and growls to his mate while going about
creation, its burned-out voice beseeching, asking, gasping-
perhaps for not long.
Larry Lee Jorgenson
A THOUGHT
I surmise we should leave this goal on the table of hope and trust it will find its way to the shining light of acceptance now concealed by the arbitrary darkness of personal bias.
- Larry Lee Jorgenson,
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
