Neil Meili

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

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Tag Archives: Love

Learning Love

Audio Recordings, Family, Relationships / tagged Care, Child, Illness, Love, Parents / October 27, 2024 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Sitting by your sick child's bed
and willing every breath till dawn
you learned what love was
and that
you would ever be a slave to it
and that's
what makes the world go round

Mother’s Poem

Audio Recordings, Cattle, Cows, Family, Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life, Relationships, Remembering / tagged Care, Love / August 5, 2024 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The kitchen has always been the center of the universe of any farm or ranch

She feeds their sleepy forms in morning
clothes them for the cold or warm
and prays them safe from harm

Looks out her window to the east
where barn shadows and rolling hills
greet them as they start their day

Men in firm direction to their work
children scattering to play

Then south across the lake to catch the water's mood foretelling wind or calm

Sometimes sees in morning
mirages of cutbanks rising
like mountains along the Eastern shore

Or more directly to the south
forms of her neighbour's homes rising and shimmering like memories of her youth

Seasons spiral out and in from this center
crocus and buttercups in the greening grass
cactus flowers and the joy of newborn calves

The growing season of the grain
and golden glory of a well stooked field

The shortening of days into winter
and the ever present stars
joined by the dance of northern lights

Within each season she has watched the play of seasons of each day
men returning from roundup
children from their play

While she waits always at the center
to warm and love

and safely tuck away

Mom and brother Wally in the ranch kitchen 1952

So Easy to Love Those Who Love

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Connection, Friendship, Love / June 29, 2024 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

My first teacher hated teaching
and wasn’t fond of students either
I’d show you the strap marks
on my hands but they’re all growed over

Our second teacher loved teaching
and specially me each of us thought

I love watching sunsets
with someone who loves watching sunsets
Love howling at the moon
with someone who loves howling at moons

I never asked but guess
my second teacher loved sunsets and moons

Do Not Complain

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Fear, Love, Optimism, Pessimism / December 4, 2023 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Do not complain
that rain or love has come too late

That kind of coat will keep you much too dry

Do not complain for fear
that complaining will keep them forever away

That kind of coat will keep you much too cold

For Victor

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Aging, Care, Dogs, Love / November 30, 2023 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The only trick an old dog can learn
is how to be an old dog

The minimum of turns one has to take
before lying down for that nap

That a bark is as good as a chase
for keeping squirrels off the deck

And that after all these years
of standing up for your standing friends
you've likely earned their kneeling by you now

Memory Care

Audio Recordings, Relationships, Remembering / tagged Aging, Alzheimers/Dementia, Care, Love, Memory / November 24, 2023 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Will the memories I want to remember
last longer than those I'd like to forget

Will I still remember how to tie my shoes
when I've grown too stiff to reach them

Will you be there to remind me of you
will you kindly tie that shoe

For Paul and Linda Fite

1 Reply

The Girl From Away

Audio Recordings, Farm, Nostalgia, Ranch Life, Remembering / tagged Love, Teenager / September 21, 2023 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

I was sixteen, it was summer

Hauling wheat to town in the 3-ton Chevy
A quart of store-bought buttermilk
on the seat for the trip back to the ranch

There was a girl, my age and beautiful
visiting in the last house on the left

Sometimes she would be
on the street or in the yard

The truck was new and powerful
I was farm boy healthy, strong

We were hitting on all cylinders

It was warm, the window was open
I was in love, the buttermilk was cold

Summer Solstice 2023

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Care, Hope, Love, Seasons / June 22, 2023 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

On the shortest night of this long year
below the crescent moon
there hangs a single star or single tear

If it is a star to wish upon
I wish peaceful wishes all come true
if a tear no shortage of who it could be for

Most Funeral Pews

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Death, Grief, Love, Mourning, Regret / June 16, 2023 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Most funeral pews are filled
with shoulda said I Love You more

while those who said it every day
wish for more days to have said it

but with no wish to change pews
with those who never said it

Invitation by Flower

Audio Recordings, Nature, Relationships / tagged Flower, Garden, Love / June 8, 2023 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Little lantana growing
through old bench boards

Saying Come sit with me
and we will be flowers three

Let us smile on one another
like there will never be another

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Ken Christopher on War WoundsNovember 12, 2024
So true, the barbed wire 👍🏼
Niece Karen on Quaking in the AtticOctober 23, 2024
Perfect metaphor - you captured me perfectly!
Ken Christopher on God is Getting OnOctober 22, 2024
Anger contained in love
Murray on Feels of the Farm – FlaxOctober 15, 2024
Now that's vintage knowledge Neil!!!! Hope you're feeling much better. Your poem would suggest you are!!
Ken Christopher on Fowl SupperSeptember 22, 2024
Wonderful poem Neil

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