Neil Meili

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

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An Invitation

Uncategorized / September 21, 2018 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Neil wanders the world in awe – Mirrors and metaphor everywhere. You can join him on this journey with a Poem in your Inbox every day.  CLICK HERE to start today

One for the Aunties

Audio Recordings, Family, Ranch Life / August 3, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
Who midwifed my father into the world in a packing crate shack in 1912 And washed up and went home without mentioning the blessed event to the government (and no one else did either) Forty years later he applies for a passport and finds that he does not exist Until they swear on their memory and bring him into the world again
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The Austrian Uncles

Audio Recordings, Family / August 2, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
Already old when I was young revered as I would hope to be when old Two brothers married to two sisters of my father's father Great aunts always as they've always been busily bustling 'round the house While the uncles somehow stay both present and out of the way Little china cups in work-hard hands black coffee and home brew sipping the day away
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Beautiful

Audio Recordings, Family, Relationships / tagged Adoration, Aging, Love / August 1, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
Dad in the hospital with family around and a light in his fading eyes Looking at Mom and saying Isn't she beautiful And we looked at her anew and she was Beautiful as the bride in the old black and whites forever in colour for him
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Kodak Anniversary

Audio Recordings, Family, Relationships / tagged Growth, Love, Marriage / July 31, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
They married in black and white we have the photos still And grew it into color we have those photos too
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Fishing with Father

Audio Recordings, Family, Haiku, Relationships / tagged Connection / July 30, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
Fishing with father you might catch his attention deepest fish in lake
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First Art Project

Audio Recordings, Family, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Art & Artists, Discipline, Discouragement / July 29, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
It took a long time to pound a whole keg of brand new spikes into the hard ranch yard A silvery path paved with shining heads danced bright in the prairie sun I stood back young and strong and proud, and knew that it was beautiful and good My father thought he had to teach There was no room for art in a hard yard – in a hard world It was a long time before I tried again
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Working with Father

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Family, Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life, Relationships / tagged Chores, Work / July 28, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
In the short days of a long winter we sort nuts, bolt, and washers against the busy days of summer Place them in well-marked bins accompanied always by his mentor's Never waste five dollars worth of time looking for a five cent bolt The 9/16th fine-threads do not go in with the regular or coarse When you're four it's not hard to geet up at four to ride in the cattle truck to the city with your dad excitement keeps you awake all night There are know you need to know reef, sheepshank, and the ever popular bowline that can still be undone even after looping a red bull weighing a ton Hood the twine around your little finger just so, in a way that I could never get, three turns and knot the gunny sack in two seconds flat Heel that calf, or turn the herd drive the truck at the perfect speed to catch the combine on the fly There is a great deal of pleasure in doing something right, when right is the only way anything should ever be done But never far, even yet from the red-black cloud of doing it wrong
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The Magic of Moose Jaw

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Family, Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life, Relationships, Travel / July 27, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
Who could sleep the night before going to town in the truck with Dad Him and me in the front white faced cows in the back mooing it clear they wanted to stay as much as I wanted to go There would be the stockyards and building bigger than a barn and lunch at the Harwood Hotel veal cutlets for him, burger for me Two men together, five and thirty five one driving home in the afternoon sun one curled up on the seat
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For Mary Who Loves Horses

Audio Recordings, Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / tagged Boundries, Freedom / July 26, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
I have ridden the fence line without believing in fences I have been one with the movement of horse the strength and speed of horse the grace of horse and the soul of horse I have been one with the wind and the high rolling hills and the sky I have stepped down with my hands filled with staples and pliers For the welfare of cattle and neighbours who still have need of believing in fences
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Thrown

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Heartbreak, Surprise, Vulnerability / July 25, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com
You know that old expression You threw me when you said that Well, you threw me when you said that I was on a quarter horse once turning a barrel like only a quarter horse can when the cinch broke Centrifugally flung, I hung a long moment speeding lateral in the air before I remembered how to roll up and hit the ground without being hurt too bad You really threw me when you said that I didn't have time to roll
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  1. Anonymous on ThrownJuly 25, 2025

    Loved "Thrown"-am a little biased when it comes to your poems!

  2. Christie flaman on Light Shining on CopperJuly 12, 2025

    Thank you for reading me my favorite poem of all time ,anywhere. Nothing describes the loss of someone you love…

  3. Nancy Fierstien on Hard to Get War Poems to RhymeJune 3, 2025

    Thanks for sharing this one, my friend. It packs a good punch, line after line. I'll be glad to give…

  4. Christie flaman on Going ProMay 17, 2025

    Old cowboy saying: Never a horse that couldn’t be rode, never a cowboy that couldn’t be thrown Thank you for…

  5. Ken Christopher on Going ProMay 16, 2025

    That’s pretty funny, and fun to read

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