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

Farm Dog

Audio Recordings, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Death, Dogs, Farewell, Goodbye, Love, pets, Rules / June 23, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

My dad doesn't allow pets in the house
they weren't allowed in on the farm
where he grew up either

Once, when he was eight
the dog came up the stairs

down the hall to the room on the right
where his young mother lay dying

Laid his head for a moment on her lap
and went out again

Hugless in Saskatchewan

Audio Recordings, Family, Relationships / tagged Childhood / June 22, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

I grew up in a time
when fathers did not hug
their children
and even less there sons

All my grandchildren
now have sore ribs
in my making up for that

Image by Imtiyaz Quraishi from Pixabay

The Question

Audio Recordings, Family, Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / tagged Connection, Conversation, Sharing / June 21, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

There's Dad sitting
by the after branding fire
with some after branding beers

And we get to talking
heart to heart
of trails together and apart

And of the things we saw
which one brought us awe

Buicks

Audio Recordings, Family, Haiku / tagged Cars, Confidence, Success / June 20, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Our father drove Buicks
we knew that we would succeed
the road had been paved

Good Advice

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Grief, Humor, Loss / June 19, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Whenever anything got broke or lost
Kim's mother would always say:
Don't cry over anything that can't cry over you

Which is a good thing to remember
when your life becomes a country song
and your dog, and your wife
and your truck are gone

Your dog will miss you right away
and cry with the coyotes all the night
your wife will miss you later - maybe
and cry for all the coulda's that might

but you're sadly mistaken
if you think that old C-10 Chevy
following the repo truck down the lane
is going to miss you half as much as you miss it

All They Survey

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Contentment, Pride / June 18, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

My father
would stand for hours
just looking at his cows

Like God leaning
on a rail fence in heaven
pleased with his creation

Co-Boss

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Farm, Ranch Life, Relationships / June 17, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Co-boss. Co-boss
to call the Holstein home

Co-boss. Co-boss and she comes
in full-udder-rocking rhythm
along the well-trod pasture path

Steps careful into the shadows
and hoof clicks to the second stall
for the evening exchange of gifts

Relief and oats and hay for her
warm milk for the kittens and me
cream and butter for the kitchen

Co-boss. Co-boss to say
equal partners in a gently way

Only One Boss in the Corral

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Farm, Ranch Life / June 16, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

If you're in the corral at roundup time
you better be ready to think or listen fast

When half a tonw of fear-blind beef
has a horn lined up with your ass
and the boss says jump you jump

Democracy is a thing of beauty
but there's a time and a place for that

Faith in the Afterlife

Audio Recordings, String Too Short To Save / tagged Clothing, Humor / June 15, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Burial suit
with two
pairs of pants

The Sunday-Go-Meeting Suit

Audio Recordings, Nostalgia, Ranch Life, Remembering / tagged Church, Clothing / June 14, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

It only took but one
and it usually came in brown
for marryin in and buryin in
and going off to town

The pants they came in twos
to double the life and use
each shining like an aura
from those well worn wooden pews

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Sandi Hebley on What the Hell VillanelleJune 10, 2026
Had to go look up “villanelle.” 😏
Sandi Hebley on The AlbumsJune 6, 2026
💕 I love our old albums!
Sandi Hebley on JudyJune 1, 2026
😢 Hugs!
Kimberly Heinrich on The Other WellMay 31, 2026
Neil: THANK YOU for this!! Love it!! You are the best!!!💕💕
Sandi Hebley on Timmy’s Down the WellMay 29, 2026
🤗 Love this!

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Poems about Poetry
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Remembering
String Too Short To Save
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