Poetic Micro Essays
This column features Tripod Poems, poetic micro essays inspired by three randomly chosen words. These words become the title of the piece, are contained within the piece and are developed into observations on life in the Southwest and beyond.
Antelope – Imagine – Cultivate
Oh, give me a home
where the buffalo roam
and the deer and the antelope play.
Where seldom is heard
a discouraging word
and the skies
are not cloudy all day.
From the poem,”My Western Home,”
by Dr. Brewster M. Higley
No buffalo, that I know of,
in southern New Mexico.
Though we have seen
splendid Buffalo Dances
at Tesuque Pueblo,
up north near Santa Fe.
Plenty of deer here,
and African antelope.
Maybe an occasional
discouraging word.
Brilliant cobalt skies,
most of the time.
Yesterday, a herd of elk
filled in for the buffalo,
roaming at their leisure
in the Trestle Recreation Area
maintained by the
National Forest Service.
Maybe home is at its best
a rest stop in life’s journey.
A gentle grassy knoll
with plenty of shade.
Somehow they knew
they were safe there,
in among the picnic tables,
during hunting season.
A safe haven in which
to partake of a meal.
A way station with cool
water and a clean restroom.
Maybe the feeling of home
only requires we cultivate
an at home attitude.
If we can foster that feeling,
can imagine being at home,
there is hope that we will
eventually roam
onto the range of it.
Photo credit: “Fall Aspen,” Eve West Bessier
