The Prize~

The Prize

Dedicated to Brandy Brenna

Three good friends canoe down the Kinni

each with their own bag of thoughts.

They navigate Clapping Waters

following a calmer course

they lean back, gliding the stillness

and hear the air between her wings

before any of them see her.

The fisherman in the rear

only noticed the fish

The artist in the front

only saw the bird

The dreamer in the center

witnessed the marvel of both.

An Eagle great in essence and size

Dove down to the surface of calm

waters, a little ahead of the trio

Grabbing a huge trout in her claws

Hovering over the water

Flapping her powerful wings

Gathering her strength

then flying away with her prize.

                                         ©River Maria Urke 6/10

6/11 rewrite

thanks to google images

Spring Crystals

Spring Crystals

Alongside the edge of a curb
hidden under thin translucent ice
flow the melted crystals of winter
thawed free from the frozen grip
that locked them in for months.

Warm rays touch the thinning ice
the waters swell
accelerating down their course
on a carved out path to the river.

They gather items along their way
joining the frigid currents
until, the waters shed
the travelers off to the side.

Around cracks small rocks and
sticks fuse with mud and leaves
sealing the open spaces
forming mini pools.

Where I, a shoeless fairy, play
all afternoon with a friend
splashing and laughing
on a warm spring day.

©3/11 River

posted for One Shot Wednesday week 38 at One Stop Poetry
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My White Stallion ~ Adventures in the Tetons - part 1

Adventures in the Tetons- part 1

My White Stallion

The year was 1997 we were moving west
cruising down 94 in an overloaded car
crossing borders of stolen lands
where the Black Hills stand guard

we enter the rustic land of dust and
pick up trucks, vast space with oilrigs,
a place where trees crowd few banks
and the sun bakes everything

Cowboy country here we come
ten miles in and our pony went down
expensive weekend fix leaves us broke
in a snag, even so, you cannot stop

three adventurous young souls on mission
a free spirit, a MacGyver, and their dog
moving lives across miles upon miles…
the mighty Volvo raged on through flats

up foothills and down into the valley
to see the Grand Tetons and visit
an old friend -we never left; instead,
we got jobs and the day we spent

our last buck was the day we were paid
cleaning messes made by tourists
poaching nights for steam showers

and entertained by the sheltered tourists

faces of fear of our loaded Volvo of sheets 
inching up the mountain blasting of cracked

muffler and David Byrne, a big dog and us,
wild cats looking out a bit scruffy in their world

our life was one found in novels, a way to be
they envied, thou if faced in life they reeked
of pity and fear; no care to us

we lived a dream of Buffalo and mountain
streams, fluffy beds and kitchen thrills
violets with smells of sage, and moments

of absolute freedom rushing through
my veins as I soared the valley winds with
my White Stallion.

© River 3/11


*Adventures in the Tetons is a series of poems written about my adventures in the Teton Mountains of Wyoming many years ago.  :)

*
The second poem in the series- A Teton Sunset


They are slowly coming, Sherry!  :)

posted for One Shot Wednesday week37 at One Stop Poetry- come join the fun!

A Teton Sunset ~ Adventures in the Tetons – Part 2

A Teton Sunset

Sage fills the valley as cracking ground thunders

pointed peaks rise through clouds of colors

majestic beauties roam an ancient path

one buffalo follows two days past

golden wings soar on the mountain breeze

mating Hawks circle each other with ease

playful paws pounce amongst setting brush

silly coyotes taunt their dinner, no rush

mere dangling moments of twilights in time

magnificent sunset, a Teton rhyme.

This is the second poem of a series of my adventures living in the forests of Wyoming across from the Teton Mountains. I promised a piece to Sherry Blue Sky from Poets United. Sherry, I decided to write of the adventures in a series for there are so many things to express one mere poem cannot pull it off. For example,  one late night where beady eyes circled my camp and my dog stood her ground is a poem all in its self.

The first poem of the series My White Stallion

posted for One Shot Wednesday week 29 at One Stop Poetry
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End the Silence

This poem is posted in connection with the 

January 2011 column piece for River's Ruminations

End the Silence  
 click to read


posted for One Shot Wednesday week 27 at One Stop Poetry
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Gaagaaiwa Enwed ~A Raven Calls

Ninoondawidiz gaagaaiwag inwe

I hear the Raven call

asaawe gichi miskwawakikaandag aka owabandanan

perched high in the great red pine, she waits

bizindaw. Nandotaw na’idaa azhigwa

listening. Listening for the right moment

googi niisayi’ii miniwa biidon nibwaakaa ikidowinan.

to swoop down and deliver a message.

Nibwaakaa ikidowinan ninoondawidizamin inwe,

A message for the ones that hear her call,

nindonjibaamin gichi miskwawakikaandag.

the ones that come to the great red pine.

Gaagaaiwag enwed

A Raven calls.

Ginoondaw ina?

Do you hear her?

The Raven Calls~

Milkweed Fritters and Sumac Ice Tea

Our appetites are awakened

from the smells of food

cooking over an open fire.

A dinner gathered

with our bare hands,

caught by pole.

A meal of survival and skill

tickling taste buds

we dig in…

watercress, dandelion, and sorrel
salad topped with raspberries

Milkweed fritters and Sumac ice tea

violets and wild rose delicate with beauty

fried Rainbow Trout with boiled

wild onion and arrowhead bulbs

yellow goats beard, and nettles

steamed with wild ginger

nibbling on wintergreen

we lean back, content

gently holding hands

absorbing the beauty

our fingers begin to play

joining an orchestra of music

a symphony by the river

painted in sunset blaze

a hawk calls for her mate

the last petal curls to bed

our lips meet

bursting with passion

wrapped in your arms

in bliss, I am.

                                           ©River 10/10



*Posted for One Shot Wednesday #16~ One Stop Poetry
image thanks to google images