Poetry

Tolling Of The Bells
by Earl Bergland, 1968

Mustang, you're dying, there is less of me.
You are America, land of the free.
Your coat's uncurried, your spirit a refrain
Like buffalo before, clouding the plain.

To the BLM Dept. mustangs are a nuisance,
A cockle burr in the rancher's pants.
Wild horses, wild horses you're public domain.
The land that you're living on is of the same.

The curs dogging you by air and wheel
Til hide burnt hemp raw is wounded by steel.
Hounding til your muzzle sprays a blood flame.
Spitting on the heritage our forefathers claimed.

Each lunar spin only $.67 per bovine.
Such public charity stings a rancher's heart mean.
Ranchers take heed of America's plea.
Or branded horse thieves will hang in memory.

Broomtail foal of the starved bones
Still now in death's draped home,
Knothole eyes alas, alas,
Your mother ravaged for eating public grass.

notes:
lunar spin = one month and BLM charges .67 cents

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Writing Poetry

Why Poetry? Poems are written by people who are too lazy to write a book. Most people who write poetry would do more good for the world by growing flowers or painting old barns. But we need to have patience because many young poets just need a few years of practicing as do musicians.
What are the three basic requirements for a quality poem?
A. The topic must be very important.
B. The poet must express thoughts with clarity.
C. The poem must create a dramatic impact (create an emotional feeling) in reader.
Is poetry a waste of time? That is a tough question. We can wonder the same thing about fishing or watching a football game. A poem provides the poet with a means of expressing ideas and feelings by a very personal means. Playing basket ball or cooking is also a means of personal expression.
What kind of an attitude should we have about reading poetry? Imagine sitting in a park on a spring day listening to your friend discuss ideas with you. Poets love waterfalls and country fried chicken.