nebraska

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dew on a cobweb,
cobweb on a lincoln sign -
c'cadas' pitch rising
(1-13)





picnic on the platte -
entrails of catfish, wrapped in
yesterday's herald
(12-13)






grand island carney
knows twisters - wind hits trailer,
wakes in a cold sweat
(6-13)






sandwich at carhenge -
prairie stretches out for miles,
cool shade of old truck
(4-10)

tales 'f driving th'old chev -

lincoln by dawn, trunk'f ice 'n' coors,

th'kind that had t'be fresh
(5-14)

ogallala fox -
miles of open range, harvests -
still rather be 'n town
(12-13)

back roads near burwell –

th’rodeo life’s all about horses,

cows’re just t’pay for it

(6-15)

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she talks – rodeo food,

th’long drives, motels, roper’s life,

th’finals in north platte

(6-15) 

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it’s hard ‘n’ it’s phys’cal,

might feel like ropin’ th’stranger –

smiles, n’turns back t’lincoln

(5-15)

 




redwinged blackbird nests
in weeds by york exit sign -
hiker hides his face
(2-10)






watching huskers' game,
they didn't see th'hawk snatch th'puppy
out in th'parking lot
(12-13)






kept our son back in
lincoln schools - so he'd have a
shot at these huskers
(8-05)






lincoln capitol
guard - jingling keys, cold hands, hot
tea - talking huskers
(2-10)





streets of whiteclay -
turns cold fast here, and folks die,
liquor man won't budge
(11-13)





steakhouse champagne toast -
a fortune from union yards,
this cork pops for thee
(2-10)






ash on icy lot,
rust heaps balance on prairie -
place called alliance
(4-10)







this road goes on to
new york, but in this snowstorm
york would be enough
(8-05)





train hauling new trucks
straight across frozen sand hills -
in one, soft blues harp
(12-13)








welcome back, monarch!
salem roadside milkweeds know
you, too, are northbound
(2-14)





chadron yard breakfast
homemade bread, cheese, wine and field
of black-eyed susans
(2-10)

th’minute school lets out,

puts supplies ‘n’ h’s trunk f’r couple ‘f months

pulling trout from the loup

(6-15)




grand island, june third -
his calendar, stuck on th'day
he lost ev'rything
(12-13)





kearney dorm showers –

preparing for finals, they

might take them for granted

(2-15)

near ogalalla
interstate forks, prairie blooms
in both directions
(2-10)

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