Cascading lullabies
bring the angels sleep
whirlwinds of galloping horses
rush through their heads
feisty little, rambunctious cherubs
dancing in moonlight's glow
perched on billowing clouds
gossamer wings flutter to and fro
sleep little angels 
in emerald dreams
cavort in shimmering milk laden streams
bind the night shadows
in golden sheaths of grain
toss them off Dover cliffs
escape
escape the night shadows 
and frolic in the veil
for now is your slumber
and on the 'morrow
you awake to a new dawn
and the world's embrace 

Snow falls, and soundly packs
All is quiet and still
Blanketing white in the winter chill
The shrill howls of coyotes break the bitter silence

Pearl gray sky, clouds like smoke
Floating and curling capping the mountains
Trees of evergreen powdered white
Red fox chases scurrying mouse
Food is prevalent in his mind

The stag is sniffing the air
You can see the mist from his nostrils
The doe is taking her rest
Kodiak bear hibernating in his den
White snow rabbit tunnels deep
All embracing a peaceful winter's sleep

Icy thick bitter wind
Cuts like a knife
Blows and chills to the bone
Crackling blue ice, the lake freezes
Smoke from the chimney heat from the fire
Warms and protects the family 

Icicles dangling from the eaves
Fog and frost shade the windows
Wind whistles and moans outside the door
Fire light flickers and dances across the floor

Gone are the leaves and all color
Monotone shades of black and white
Blue water rivers crisp and chilling
All of winter silent and thrilling

Old Grey Wolf started out life in a den of four
Of food and milk he kept score
With siblings fighting for every bite
He was tough and always won the fight

He got in a tussle with a bear when he was just two
Now he's got a bare patch where skin shows threw
But let that bear win a fight, that wouldn't do
He bit that old bear square in the ear
Nipped off a chunk and snapped at it's rear
That big ole bear growled 
And that big ole bear howled 

Old Grey Wolf, he's mighty lean
Hate to say but sometimes he's even mean
His eyes are Smokey Grey
And in the dark of night they glow a silver hue
Yet in the light of day steely blue

Yeah, Old Grey Wolf he's been around
Seen Indians and cowboys, why he's even been to town
Old Grey Wolf, he's no tenderfoot
Been in a forest fire covered with soot
He walks with a limp cause he got caught in a trap
His energy and vitality it could not sap

He wanders the hills and valleys and plains
Takes cover in a cave whenever it rains
He's battered and beaten and way plum tuckered
For a biscuit or slice of ham he could be suckered

His is a lonely life
But on occasion he took a wife
All of them were no where near as wise
He looked on as each met her demise

Don't be afraid for Old Grey 
He's loyal and trustworthy and this I'd say
He's going to wander this earth for a few more years
But when he's gone no one will shed tears
For his has been an adventurous life it's true
And he has no regrets, so he'll expect none from you.

So if your ever in the country 
Keep an eye peeled for someone grumpy
Just might be Old Grey Wolf
Stumbling around and being aloof
Don't be afraid, no don't you be scared
Old Grey Wolf a long life, full of life he'd share

Old Grey Wolf started out life in a den of four
When his chapter's over it won't be a sign to close the door
Cause soon somewhere there'll be four more
Longing to linger and learning to explore
And watching and waiting to even the score

Thistle Foot's a cantankerous fool
He was 13 when he dropped out of school
So's he could help his pappy
Out on the ranch

Was quite a herd of cattle to drive
And a terrible drought to survive
But to Kansas they were running this herd
And Thistle Foot, young, was still a man of his word

So he packed his knapsack and roll
Loaded up on Old Raggedy
And saddled up for the cattle drive
Rather happily

He settled himself right in the saddle
And with a whoop and a heehaw
He was ready for the battle

See drivin' cattle's not an easy chore
And with all the treacherous things in the wild
It was gonna be an exciting journey fer shore

First day out it rained cats and dogs
And on the second there was a hover of fog

The trail was hot and at night they slept
under 'neath a starlit sky
During the day is was hot and dry
Thistle Foot wore a bandana
To keep the dust out of his mouth and eyes

6 days out and the thunder rolled
spooking the cattle and making them stir
In the middle of the night 
A terrible stampede
Thistle Foot awakens and mounts his steed

Pappy's yellin' and cussin' a bit,
"You be careful thar son 
Keep Raggedy fit
Don't let her turn on you and run
Cause dang it boy there's work to be done."

So Thistle Foot, gathers his nerve
And rides into the fretful cattle herd
Five calves and a cow stuck in the mire
Coulda been worse coulda been barbed wire

Thistle Foot unthithers his rope 
Proceeds to spin and throw his loop
The cattle are down in the valley 
Close to a slope
Thistle Foot tosses his rope
Catches one calf by its front hoof

He nudges Raggedy to back up real slow
And gives one little calf a tow
The critter bawls and makes quite a racket
Finally he's cleared and the mud starts to packin'
Thistle Foot works on them few head of cattle
Ropin' and tuggin', it was one heck of a battle

They saved them all six head
Raggedy and Thistle
Now they were ready to get back to camp
And settle in bed for a brief nap
But it was near daylight so they had breakfast instead

The crew was all ready packin' to ride
When Pappy moseyed on up by Thistle Foot's side

Pappy said, "Son I'm right proud,
Of the way you handled yourself
Last night
You could have been scared
Cause that was a terrible fright
But you stood your ground and did your part
And I hope you know this comes from my heart!
You're only 13 this I know
But you're a man 
Tonight you showed.
I'm right honored and happy
To say you're my son 
And am prouder than a peacock to have you call me Pappy!"

Two days later the ride was over
The cattle were thirsty
And everyone was glad it was over
Pappy sold them cattle for $13.00 a head
And Thistle Foot got $50.00,
A bath and a clean bed!

In a small village 
Sky Woman awakes to the cacophony 
Of the tribal community
It is winter and shudders racked her body
But daylight washed always the dregs
Of the night
Blearily she gathers herself
And makes her way out of the wigwam
Where she passes 2 Horses, her husband
He greets his woman with a curt nod and 
A disgruntled snort
He’d been drinking rotgut the night before
Diluted alcohol treated with red peppers
To give it back its kick
And twists of tobacco along with sorghum
To give some semblance of its former color
Sky Woman takes the moccasin worn trail
Down to the river
Splashing water on her cheeks
And rubbing the sleep from her eyes
Slowly she disrobes
Feeling the morning sun warm her
Then slipping into the icy waters
Hurriedly she bathes
Briskly washing her tanned skin
And rinsing her long ebony hair
In the stillness she can feel eyes
Locked in a stare
2 Horses was not too hung over
To follow her there
To gaze upon her beauty
In all her bare nakedness
Sky Woman gives him a glance
And a little smile
Tosses her head, welcoming him
To join her
2 Horses removes his loin cloth
The sight of Sky Woman still excites him
After many moons they have shared
Unable to control his urges any longer
2 Horses lifts Sky Woman in his arms
Lays her on a buffalo skin
On the cool grass next to the river
Sky Woman feels the cold
And begins to shiver
Then she slowly writhes
In the gentle to and fro
Then they lay side by side
Suddenly spent
Basking in the early morning sun
Her plump round belly
Growing with child
Laughing, they make plans and they smile
For when the winter snows fall
They will be no longer 2 but 3
2 Horses, Sky Woman and little baby
And no matter what
They will be blissfully happy
Together forever in the Wyoming Territory

Run you young lovers
run to the arbor by moonlight so gay
Make haste
for time is whisking away
Smell the sweet aroma of roses and ivy 
winding in and out of the trellis
Take care for the thorns
they scratch and claw
A fortress not yet encumbered 
by the added weight
leaves and stems and branches entwining
roots in the ground
blossoms up to the heavens
spiraling upward and downward
all around 
the bloom is finally off the rose
only a light misting of dew remains
with the sunlight all will fade