Buffalo

there’s something sacred about a canyon
how the land gave way to river power
water’s carrying works will never be done

some majesty gets measured by the ton
lips that graze are busy every hour
in their bones they understand the canyon

acknowledging sacredness in action
where rainfall meets land, and time empowers
the water to carve and never be done

geology gathers runnels, functions
godlike to determine weather’s dour
realty, while the sacred canyon

goes on, sheltering the new herded spawn
whose old roaming gave way to manpower
restoration work will never be done

at least someone is trying. wisdom runs
down hill, delicate as prairie flowers
in the sacredness of the canyon
apologize to the land and be done

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This is the villanelle version of a prose poem that I published today on Tupelo Press’ website for the 30/30 project. It was a hard decision which one to send them: this, or the prose version. You can read it here:

The August, 2023 30/30 Project

Thank you, readers! Just a couple of days left in August – phew, what a month it’s been!