
an overnight storm
whips up chaos and fury
and reminds us all
of the violence of war
on this memorial day
–photo by me

an overnight storm
whips up chaos and fury
and reminds us all
of the violence of war
on this memorial day
–photo by me

life is but a wooden fence
that stretches ‘cross the grounds
and circumnavigates the deep
with countless ups and downs
life is wooden mile-posts
with threaded rails of time
standing sun-bleached hand in hand
on felted lawn sublime
life is wooden moments
reaching out of sight
a wooden skeleton by day
a memory by night
–photo by me

Winding through the heart of the Mesabi Iron Range in Northeast Minnesota, the Mesabi Trail provides close encounters with nature for joggers, cyclists, and walkers like me. When completed, the trail will have 145 miles of paved paths from Grand Rapids to Ely, with several spurs through the picturesque woodlands and around the old, historic iron-ore pits.

A three-mile loop encircles the St. James pit just north of our little mining town, Aurora.
A casual stroll around the pit is the perfect way to spend a beautiful summer afternoon, and I thought I’d share a few pics I’ve taken on my walks.

A spiderweb along the path is heavy with dew in the fresh morning air.
A walk into the woods of Northern Minnesota can be breath-taking, but sometimes we’re reminded that nature can be brutal as well. With no hunting on the ubiquitous mining property, deer populations soar, and…
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slow, winding creeks carve
the wooded lowlands into
locked puzzle pieces
–photo by me
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out of gas and feeling low
walking down this lonesome road
I’m eating dust and swallowing my pride,
I need a lift to get some gas
but all the cars are going past
so I’m walking down the road
and thumbing for a ride.
inspired by a farmer’s dog
I drop my thumb and start to jog
but which is worse, I really can’t decide,
I couldn’t run for very far
so I sacrificed my candy bar
now I’m walking down the road
and thumbing for a ride.
it’s sunday morn and church is out
and now here comes all thee devout
but when they left the church
they forgot what they learned inside,
for their big warm smiles are real nice
but their hearts must be as cold as ice
so I’m walking down the road
and thumbing for a ride.

A Minnesota morning.
–Photo by me

amid stormy lives
a door opens in heaven
and shows us the way
we can stand in the rain or
step into the divine light
–photo by me

in the mirror of truth
when we come face to face
with the devil that hides
in our most sacred place
we will have to admit
we portrayed an illusion
and now we can’t help
but to see our delusion
yet it comes with a gift
having seen our true selves
for at last now we see
the true everyone else

crystal balls
fall all around
and shatter
as they strike
the ground
while silently
we march
en masse
o’er bloody
drifts of
broken glass
how beautiful
the crystal sphere
a perfect orb
so pure and clear
yet hold a shard
up to the sun
and rainbows
shine on
everyone
(orig. posted 4-16)

“Working late again, dear,” he moaned.