Cowboy Reverie

Mind’s eye finds me on Staked Plain,

Chasing skittish mavericks

And corralling ornery steer

From first light to sundown…

Like cowhands of yesteryear.

I’m saddle-soar, plumb tuckered out,

Dry bath scrubs grime and sweat,

Strong black-jack ‘neath starlit veneer

Loosens jaws by fire light…

Like cowhands of yesteryear.

On said ancient tablelands,

Where buzzards ride thermals

And coyote howls wake primal fears,

I lived lifetimes in a day…

Like cowboys of yesteryears.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Cowboy Reverie

Riding the Palomino Crazy Eyes on Llano Estacado Plain near Portales NM

(Original photo by daughter Lea Ciceraro)

Endurance

Like it or not, we’re meant to persevere—

By divine design blessed with endurance—

To brave challenges of human life sphere,

Humbly, with spiritual obeisance.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Reaching For The Empyrean

Osprey Point on Seaforth Peninsula at Jordan Lake NC

Ode To Life's Rock Gardens

From realms beyond time

Water of life spills by grace.

Rock gardens liven 

Flows of said divine river

And ask mortals to commit

Both heart and soul in embrace

Of life’s journey, not fear,

With eye on eternity…downriver.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

As we navigate life in our quest of enlightenment, spiritual liberation and profound union with the divine, we must hold dear both the steadfastness of river rock gardens and flexibility of the river to move through obstacles—keeping in mind that our sojourn on Earth unfolds with interplay of human free will and divine intervention.

Rock Gardens

Along Lower Haw River Trail near Bynum NC

Wisdom's Gateway

Mother Nature pauses in hushed richness

Her autumnal pageantry of seasons...

Lets days immersed in river of life stillness

Cleanse heart and soul of villainous legions.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Wisdom's Gateway

Canoe launch site at trailhead to Lower Haw River Trail near Bynum NC

Empyrean Light

Are we by nature

A murderous lot,

Hostage to primal urges

That time forgot?

Or do heavenly embers,

Divine sparks of light,

Guide nobler instincts—

Our God-given birthright?

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Empyrean Light

Seaforth Peninsula on Jordan Lake NC

Music Of The Spheres

With crisp breath autumn stirs wind chimes to life.

Their lively chords buoy dance of earthbound leaves,

Encourage mindful peace of mind, not strife,

Which keeps at arm’s length my soul’s den of thieves.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Enduring Brotherhood

Seaforth Peninsula at Cooper's Cove on Jordan Lake NC

Whimsical Expectations

After days brim with pomp and circumstance,
Autumn skedaddles, takes leave quietly.
Wildlands unwind, roll dice on the chance
Jack Frost falls short of his notoriety

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Whimsical Expectations

Lower Haw River Trail near Bynum NC

A Return To Monet's Garden

I’ve long been inspired by the 19th-century impressionism art movement, characterized by paintings that capture the artist’s immediate response to a dynamic moment in time—often “en plein air” everyday, subject matter. Working outdoors artists endeavored to capture the fleeting effects of light on color with texture created by visible brush stokes, to help convey a sense of movement and atmosphere. 

In a series of photographic images, I humbly pay homage to artists like Claude Monet—the quintessential landscape impressionist— by editing and processing some of my pictures to emulate his painterly style.

I seek to unfold the tapestry of my afternoon adventure on the Lower Haw River Trail through a filter dipped in impressionist nostalgia. I want to color my heart’s journey through emphasis on light, color, movement, mood and emotions…and, hopefully express what my heart experienced through sensory inputs at the moment I released that camera shutter. 

© Ilija Lukić 2025

A Return To Monet's Garden

Finding My Muse

As I meander along becalmed lake waters,

Wrapped in silence and lost in reverie,

An errant breeze asks ripples of water

To break gently across my path…and nudge

The tranquil confines of introspection

That hold captive my imagination,

To release mindful lines of poetry

With each breath and ev’ry beat of my heart.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Finding My Muse

Cooper's Cove on Jordan Lake NC

Water Of Life

When woes beset your heart as fierce rivers of life test your immortal soul, just lean into God’s grace—sacred water of life—and embrace said struggles with renewed vigor and faith.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Water Of Life

Cathedral Grove on Seaforth Peninsula at Jordan Lake NC

Dreamtime

Spinning world curbs heart

Autumn’s warm hues rouse dreamtime

Heart finds its true north

Often overwhelming, the fast-paced and chaotic nature of living in the digital age curbs emotional well-being and restrains true self-awareness.

Connecting with nature in autumn during her time of transition emboldens letting go of useless habits, worn out ideas and futile relationships. Furthermore, likening autumnal turning of the leaves to embracing inevitable changes and adaptations in the human condition spills mindful self-examination into dreamtime—that soul-searching journey inward to understand your essence—to become who you truly are.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Dreamtime

Lower Haw River Trail near Bynum NC

Season Of Change

Winds of change bode bliss

Heart discards earthly burdens

Soul soars in rapture

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Season Of Change

Seaforth Peninsula on Jordan Lake NC

Timeless Journey

Joy flows from free will

God’s grace paves timeless journey

Mind the long road home

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Timeless Journey

Seaforth Peninsula spit on Jordan Lake NC

Eternity Unchained

The faint-hearted choose sitting on the fence,

While affairs of man crush their divine side.

When said threads of life and time converge, play offense…

Life is short, eternity beckons, decide.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Eternity Unchained

Cooper's Cove at Seaforth Peninsula on Jordan Lake NC

Nature's Pulse

Summer wanes humbly

Autumn crawls in with fanfare

Soul feels nature’s pulse

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Summer Leftovers

Seaforth Beach on Jordan Lake NC

Letting Go

Autumn’s vibrant letting go eases hearts

And bespeaks release from shackles of strife

Foolishly revered on vile social ramparts.

Though rubbish, strife hinders good will in life.

© Ilija Lukic 2025

Letting Go

Autumn colors in Pittsboro NC

Tranquility Reborn

These days humankind breathes a collective sigh

And gives good-natured hearts free rein worldwide,

To dance once more just like a butterfly,

Rapt with joy, on summer’s flowered hillside.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Tranquility Reborn

Haw River near Bynum NC

Dream Weaver

Cast not aside mindful twilight thinkers,

Night owls who ruminate, burn midnight oil,

For life’s journey requires dream weavers

To help alleviate life’s mortal coil. 

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Dream Weaver

Self-portrait

Second Spring

Turning of leaves wakes memories of spring.

Surge of red hues and gay shades of amber

Encourage wracked hearts to one final fling,

Before Earth realms embrace winter slumber.

© Ilija Lukić 2025

Wistful Blues

Hydrangea

            Daughter Of Elysium
                Honeysuckle

Spring Fling

Pollinator garden at Pittsboro Market NC

Haunted Reverie

Lakeside reverie haunted by flashback

To elemental chaos wrought by storms,

Whose fearsome wake dropped telltale beach wrack—

Ephemeral art beneath insect swarms.

© Ilija Lukić 25

Two months after mid-July flash flooding—when lake waters rushed into shoreline woodlands before settling some ten feet above current levels—Mother Nature tries her best to settle into a laid-back autumn mood. The rust-colored tinge on trees left by muddy water bespeaks the high-water mark.

Haunted Reverie

Seaforth Peninsula on Jordan Lake NC