A PRAIRIE BLESSING
MAY YOU SMILE WIDE IN SPRING
HEARING MEADOWLARK’S CALL
MAY A ROARING HEARTH WARM YOU
THROUGH WINTER AND FALL.
MAY THE SUMMER RAINS
TURN YOUR PASTURES GREEN AND LUSH
MAY YOUR HEIFERS CALF EASY
WITH NARY A HUMAN TOUCH.
FROM A GOOD HORSE’S BACK
MAY THE GREAT LAND LAY BEFORE YOU
MAY THE SUN WARM YOUR SOUL
FROM THE SKY OF ROBIN’S EGG BLUE.
MAY YOUR CHILDREN KNOW THE LONE LAND
MAY COYOTE’S CALL, THEIR HEARTS LIFT
MAY THEY KNOW ONE GOOD HORSE
AND LOVE ALL THE LAND’S GIFTS
MAY THE GREAT SHEPARD WATCH OVER YOU
AND ALL YOUR KITH AND KIN
MAY HE BE WITH YOU AT DAY’S END
AND AS EACH NEW DAY BEGINS
–Geordie Grassick
Not sure what day Brenda called Lee while she was in the hospital
Brenda clearly remembers Lee saying to her on the phone “It will be
a letting go but not a tearing away.”
Flat Land
Flatland- nothing to see- and they roar away.
Flatland I whisper, recalling secrets held by this land, eons old
Leave hardtop behind and just out of sight, the land gives way to coulee, valley,
hills and trees- breathtaking view
Look- there in the grass- imprint of bison trail, fox, coyote, gopher and more
In shadows, at dusk, mule deer and fawn, four point too for those who see
Remnants of medicine wheel, tepee circle, high bush cranberry, ruby red
chokecherry and famous Saskatoon
Top land too has many a view- sea of shimmering blue, royal yellow, green oat
feed, wheat and barley too
Land, open land, as far as the eye can see
Space and room to breathe and find oneself- and under a prairie sky of iridescent
blue one finds the design of one’s maker
–Lee Tennyson
Meegan Linklater came yesterday and Lee said “tell me stories” That’s
what she wants to hear. She wants to laugh. Meegan told her about the
time Bert, Meegan and Lee were riding and they all had to adjust fluid
levels. Lee parked Quincey in the ditch so she could more easily climb
aboard. She did it so deftly that she propelled herself not only up onto the
horse but completely over the other side. She quickly bounced back up
came around Quincey and climbed back on and off everyone went. None
of the 3 made any comments in the moment They just proceeded on the
ride A couple days later Bert and Meegan were driving into the city to
work and Meegan started to laugh and said “ Did you see what happened
to Lee?”
Did we tell you the story about Lee going riding with Claire? Claire
was 5 (she is now 16 1/2) and following behind Lee on Shortey. From
behind Lee heard Claire say “Gramma when you die I get the farm
but I don’t want the geese!” That has been a favorite story of ours
over the years.
“It will be a letting go but not a tearing away.” Wow. So beautiful.
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