Nostalgia – Page 17 – Neil Meili

Neil Meili

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

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Category: Nostalgia

Small School Pictures

Nostalgia, Ranch Life / March 31, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Seven students and eight grades
with the inkwells covered to save the braids

Desks with dad’s initials carved years ago
and lessons meant for other ears
more interesting than your own
as you crammed to sting
the older kids in spelling bees

Recess, with garter snakes, gophers, and mice
which girls who were being chased, and teachers
with just opened desk drawers didn’t think were so nice
and a big teeter totter on the north side high enough
to get a bobbing glimpse of one of the big boys
hand outstretched for the well deserved strap

In winter, a pot-bellied stove in the back of the room
with a big tin shield to keep us from burning ourselves
any lapse in supervision adding to its décor as we
melted wax crayons into modern art on its silver sides

The colors still fresh

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Jeep

Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / March 12, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Dad had a Willy’s Jeep
That took us to school for a while

In the wet it was wet, in the cold it was cold

Our baby teeth bounced from our jaws
And bruises covered every bum

We knew that it was built for war - it felt like war

1 Reply

Sheets to the Wind

Audio Recordings, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / tagged Washday / March 1, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Reminded by Marymae the other day

of Monday’s wash in Tuesday’s wind
and bending sheets to bring them in

It was just enough starch
and thirty degrees below in March

And about how fingers got cold as hell
but I think it was really about the smell

Yes that was the part she wanted to tell
it was really the freshness of that smell

1 Reply

When mother treadled and the Singer sang
new clothes appeared from patterns spread
to clothe both girls for church and school

When mother treadled and the Singer sang
collars were turned to turn out dad
and rough boys rough sewn smooth again

When mother treadled and the Singer sang
you’d never want the radio on
to compete and lose to that sacred song

When the Singer Sang

February 24, 2019

Hockey Night in Canada

Nostalgia / tagged Hockey, Montreal Canadiens, Sport / February 19, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Every boy across the land
ears glued to the radio set

Leafs against the Habs

Battle
of the Plains of Abraham
fought again - shot by shot

The Old Dry Guy and the Bath

Cowboy Poetry, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / January 26, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The old timers were all settin around the general store
I think they’d been there forever, or a few days more
hocking up gossip, and spit and an occasional snore

And as it’s always been, in the West of the East
the one who knew the most; said the least
He had a face like old harness and one bad eye
to myself I called him ‘the old dry guy’

Late January one year the old boys were a buzz
old Jeb had got scalded and burned off some fuzz
He’d been bathing in his kitchen in the old tin tub
and reached across for the kettle to warm up the rub
slipping he’d spilt it and lost some skin and some hair
and the boys were all speculatin’ how much and where

They’d talked it around for three hours or more
when the old dry guy moved in his chair by the door

They all got real quiet and leaned closer to hear

He said: “Serves the damn fool right, takin a bath this time of year”

1 Reply

Memories of Three or Four

Audio Recordings, Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / January 14, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

3 Replies

Blue Spruce

Nature, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / January 5, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

With thanks to Al Westnedge for the stunning Great Horned Owl photograph

2 Replies

Winter in the Barn

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cowboy Poetry, Cows, Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life / January 2, 2019 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

2 Replies

Once More ‘Round the Maypole

Nostalgia, Poems about Poetry, Ranch Life, Relationships / December 27, 2018 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

1 Reply

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Tom on Basketball in CanadaApril 18, 2025
Neil, as you may know we live about 15 miles from his former farm. The locals have installed a bronze…
Ken Christopher on Hockey Night in CanadaApril 17, 2025
Good one, it’s still goin on
Ken Christopher on ShitstormApril 4, 2025
My former comment had an error, should have read: Great poem Neil, has some slippery elements that mix it up…
Kenneth on Walden PondApril 3, 2025
Siblants interlapping with interference waves construct this delightful hologram of spring: well done my friend
Ken Christopher on Minutia in MarchApril 1, 2025
21 beats, 4 past hyku, (sp); perhaps a new form. Beautiful poem

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