My Cart 
Login 

Previous

Spirits Still Remain
by
Mike Moutoux


Next
 
There are places tucked away from the sun and wind and rain
Where the homes are long abandoned but the spirits still remain
They say that when the moon is full and the wind lies calm
You can sense the presence of a people now a long time gone
 
I've seen the art that someone pecked into the varnished rock
Found the broken shards of painted vases, bowls and maybe pots
Peered through windows into rooms where children played
Stood outside the kivas where they say the people prayed . . . I don't know
 
And there are cabins on the prairie only cowboys know
Log ruins lost and so remote that no one ever goes
They say some family built a ranch entirely by hand
And toughed it out for quite a while till bankers took the land
 
I've seen the tiny shacks with the sod roof all caved in
Walked along the old corrals where the horses would have been
Kicked around the dump heap looking for some sign
That proved the ranch was something long ago in a better time . . . I don't know
 
And I can't help but wonder about the last of all to leave
Are they the ones whose presence lingers now for eternity?
Did they love a place so much that their memories never die?
When the moon is full and the wind lies calm is it them that I hear sigh?
 
One thing seems clear when you find yourself in such a lonely place
They made something out of nothing and that's damn hard to erase
So if their spirits cling awhile to these outposts time forgot
Their souls have earned the right to claim what you and I can not
 

 

 

Mike Moutoux (pronounced "moo-toe") is a cowboy-singer-songwriter-photographer-poet who lives in Pinos Altos, New Mexico. Touted as “New Mexico’s Enchanting Cowboy,” his poems provide a rare and realistic look into the life of a working cowboy. These days,  Mike's passion is nature photography, and his pictures are as breathtaking as his poems. Enjoy some of his work at https://www.youtube.com/user/mikemoutoux.

    

 


Post New Comment:
Linda Lee (Konichek):
I love this and the flow of the poem fits the subject so well. Excellent details, can feel the musical rhythm to it, as well. Thank you, Mike!
Posted 09/05/2011 05:34 PM
KevinArnold:
When asked what I think of cowboy poetry, I always say, 'if it's good.' This is. Good find.
Posted 09/05/2011 11:15 AM
dotief@comcast.net:
This is really nice. I can almost feel the ghosts lingering in the iconic vistas of Westerns I have watched. Great stuff!
Posted 09/05/2011 08:18 AM


Contents of this web site and all original text and images therein are copyright © by Your Daily Poem. All rights reserved.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Purchasing books through any poet's Amazon links helps to support Your Daily Poem.
The material on this site may not be copied, reproduced, downloaded, distributed, transmitted, stored, altered, adapted,
or otherwise used in any way without the express written permission of the owner.