Thursday, April 28, 2022

Good Horsemanship

How are people both irreplaceable and insignificant?


How is life both fragile and resilient? 


Does perfect health require assistance or does innate orchestration manage it all?


How can the body choose to die without the permission of the mind?


How do some people evade odds and probable outcomes?


Is being “normal” healthy or deadly?


Is doing something differently, weird or genius?


Is consistency the secret for maintaining a tolerable long life?


Does a wayward lifestyle play too many notes at once for the body and mind to flourish?


Tell me, what are the attributes most congruent to a lifespan which provides satisfaction and contentment?


Being as one with the body through life is most akin to good horsemanship. 

Talk to oneself in a calm and reassuring way. 

Not too rich a diet, sustainable boundaries with enough range to keep the spirit alive and in wonder. 

Trust your body and your body will trust you. Don’t let others lead your body or mind astray.


The trail of life is a compromise between freedom and sustainable stability.

The horse and rider cooperate to "get the job done" or to simply enjoy the scenery.

They allow each other unproductive browsing when left to themselves.


-Kelly Voelker


Sunday, April 10, 2022

Tentatively Touching the Same Little Path

The repetition of soft little feet

From rabbits patrolling the fenceline in Spring

Before colors green emerge in the field

Tentatively touching the same little path

Small meandering trails from their entrance

To tall brown dry grass over which 

Snow never visited

Shunning the ground as the wind made harsh

The rest of the field our rabbits avoided

Nestling under the large strong spruce fortress

Last year's dry grass agreed to stay 'round

Escorting the rabbits until warmth can be found. 

-Kelly Voelker

Friday, April 8, 2022

The Four Deer

They cut through the rows

Of the cornfield in front

They ran past the mailbox

Leapt over the fence

They ignored the light poles, borders and went

Like ghosts from the wild past

Disregarding our ways

The four deer will always

Transcend and amaze.

-Kelly Voelker