At first it was the ocean I loved
then the mountains
then the ocean and the mountains again

but now I see
it will always be
the prairie.

If I could carve out a little hut
camouflaged in a verdant bluff I would

spend my days turning circles in the long, gilded grass with the sun
watching the clouds narrate each breath
I would

let the wind decide when it’s time to retreat
before the prairie toads and pointed frogs hop about under the brilliant
reflection of the moon
whispering the word eternal

let the snakes unbothered, carve out their ssssssssses of gold
and the jackrabbits leap for joy
over their communal unanimity
I would

let the coyotes
yip yip yip
me into a bottomless slumber
of cool air and simple dreams

where bison rise to a bluff
under the darkned veil of an afternoon storm
and mustang wildly toss their obdurate heads
bucking and cantering

into this earthy outer-space
more cosmic and unscathed
than what people sail or climb…