Field of broom snakeweed sets broad plain aglow,
While weathered yucca spires reminisce
Cherished springtide on said flowered plateau—
High hopes reign far and wide, not hit or miss.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Two friends and I are on an afternoon ride through waist-high shortgrass prairie of Rockin’ P Ranch open range near Broadview, New Mexico. The gentle, smooth and rhythmic pace of a relaxed flat-footed walk by my stallion named Trouble allows me to drift into reverie about the wonders of vast Llano Estacado grasslands. Afterwards, I wax poetic.
My spirit soars when eye to eye
With Tasiwóo on Staked Plain;
Where red-tailed hawks rule azure sky
And spadefoots trumpet summer rain.
Where pronghorn flash rumps on the fly
And cougars prowl escarpment chain;
Where sandhill cranes lift hearts on high
And prairie dogs build their domain.
Where milkweed hosts monarch fly-by
And cholla adds flair to terrain;
Where lark song thrills, moods fortify
And swallows are life's weathervane.
Where horned toads squirt blood from their eye
And stink bugs spray pungent refrain;
Where coon-tail buzz stops heart well-nigh
And swift fox threads cactus chicane.
Where sunset skies God glorify,
And monsoon rains can be insane;
Where Blue Northers cause hue and cry
And lazy Moon croons gentle strain.
Where dry-land crops barely scrape by
And sand dunes impede life’s fast lane;
Where coyotes play in sage waist-high
And nature’s marvels give heart free rein.
Where starlit skies draw eyes sky high
And soul surrenders, it’s germane;
Reverence brims storehouse of mind’s eye—
Life on the plain is not mundane.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Thanks to an entrenched La Niña weather pattern—spawned by cooling of Pacific Ocean waters along the western coast of South America and equator—Eastern New Mexico currently suffers one of the driest springs in 132 years.
Cloud-free skies limit legendary Llano Estacado eventide blazes. But, occasional and thus especially impactful sunsets help ease drought effects on moods of the high plains populace.
Said sporadic nightfall spectacles paint skies over dwindling water holes on the American bison rangelands of the 3,200-acre Ned Houk Park—six miles north of Clovis, New Mexico. This is buffalo country. From dawn till dusk park visitors can enjoy close encounters with a small herd of the iconic beasts—managed by rangers in partnership with the city’s Hillcrest Park Zoo.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Time always takes a toll on hopes and dreams,
Relentless tides of years pound hearts and souls;
Yet, fortune thrives on the edge of extremes,
Where life builds grit and resolve towards goals.
Nature provides the palette,
Light is the medium,
Hearts are the canvas…
For the poetry of light.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
The physical world brims with colors, textures and endless supplies of subjects for those inclined to capture sublime, timeless fragments of life. Some create photos, others put paint brush to canvas, a handful weave symphonic masterpieces and a few channel said moments into poetry. For most of us who are more casual observers, moments of elation become soul-stirring, singular memories destined for innermost treasure troves that shape our essence.
During the golden hour of a Llano Estacado morning, the quality of light shapes, reveals and brings natural elements to life. It defines our visual experience—how we perceive colors and depth of field, for example. But the interplay of light with the natural world also triggers emotions, It gives rise to feelings and sets moods. The latter influences how we respond to events and interact with people.
A late afternoon sojourn across seas of Llano Estacado grasslands and scattered islands of agriculture circles near Broadview, New Mexico tugs at heartstrings. However, the masterful cultivation of inhospitable high plains tablelands is a double-edged sword. Irrigated crop circles threaten the demise of native grasslands.
Just before sundown the world slips into a palpable silence as the sun takes final bows and settles into the infinity of the western expanse. Lingering light floods the short-grass prairie with amber hues and fond farewell kisses.
Determined to match the drama in western skies, first whispers of night veil the eastern edge of the world and gently buoy dying embers of daylight—a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering. A rising Moon, eager for his ordained traverse of a boundless and starlit firmament, melts into said celestial eventide medley. I pause in awesome wonder and drink deeply from the cup of life.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Minds play games with truth
Wisdom thrives in silent vaults
Time lays bare veiled truth
© Ilija Lukić 2026
The Sandhills on the New Mexico-Texas border near Muleshoe formed some 12,000 years ago, when wind-blown river deposits from the Portales Valley to the west formed sand sheets, dunes and rolling hills. Over time grasses, cacti, mesquite, shin-oak and sage stabilized the delicate ecosystem. The rough-hewn land refuses the plow and sand makes irrigation impossible.
But, in its wild state the prairie easily sustains light cattle grazing and echoes with sounds of yesteryear, as family ranchers and cowboys continue to honor historical practices of tending to the land while eking out a livelihood. My days in the saddle during round-ups, chasing steers across ridge lines and through draws, remain a memorable lifetime of adventures packed into ten years.
(Excerpt from my cowboy poetry penned years ago follows)
Rain rarely falls, but wind does blow.
Dust time and again shrouds azure skies.
Cowboys brave harsh wilds of New Mexico,
Where cattle bawl and the Red-tailed Hawk flies.
Blue skies hold sway, but when Blue Northers blow
They unleash raw squalls from angry skies.
Said High Plains drama in New Mexico
Feeds cowboy-life lore and tall tales likewise.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
At 4,500 feet of elevation the arid tablelands of the Llano Estacado Plateau stretch across some 40,000 square miles of Eastern New Mexico and Panhandle of Texas. Large cattle ranches and irrigation agriculture defy the raw climate and thrive.
Long gone are the indigenous Great Plains horse cultures that lived in harmony with the land. But, sprawling stretches of primal prairie survive. After embracing spring rains the Earth once again laughs in countless arrays of flowers—a stunning awakening on the wheel of life.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
It’s been eleven years since I stopped chasing endless Llano Estacado horizons and kicking up prairie dust in rollicking range herding adventures. I swapped carefree saddle days and open range for more leisurely meanders and rumination about life in verdant Carolina woodlands.
I hung up my spurs and cowboy lid—a wide-brimmed, Cattleman-creased straw hat—yet, mind’s eye often drifts into nostalgic reverie about the short-grass prairie, shin-oak and sage-covered Sandhills on the eastern reaches of New Mexico’s high plains. A spirited American Paint named Trouble was a favored mount…even in my early “greenhorn” days.
(An excerpt from a poem I penned years ago)
Roll out of bed, stumble, it’s o’dark thirty;
Find gloves, don’t forget hat hung on rack;
Grab spurs, slide into boots worn and dirty;
Make tracks in old pickup, dogs in the back.
Saddle up Trouble at first blush of dawn.
The stallion joins Melon Head a red mule
And two weathered cowpokes ‘bout to have fun
With a wide-eyed greenhorn…flat-out old-school.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Spring stirs in Earth realms
Bright hues sow seeds of summer
Renewed joy brims heart
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Usually located near open water and hunting grounds, an eyrie is a majestic stronghold as well as a lofty cradle of intertwined twigs lined with bark, sod and grasses. Osprey tend to return to the same nest year after year. They repair nests as needed, often resulting in massive feet-deep structures.
Although the sleek raptors seem accustomed to people and recreational activities at Jordan Lake, they are leery of human intrusion. It’s breeding season, a time they are particularly cautious and sensitive to threats near their nests.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Nature unknots mind filled with confusion,
Her purposeful flourish and verve confirm
Free will is real, yet hints of illusion,
Unchosen choices, both short and long term.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
As bountiful spring blooms, refreshing vernal breezes and dew-kissed mornings yield dominion to unseasonably early summer swelter, body and spirit crave comfort.
Mind’s eye drifts to cool, misty autumn landscapes. In said daydream, every leaf speaks volumes to the heart, wakes memories of flowered hillsides and allows the bright breath of springtide reverie to hearten resilience in sultry climes.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Feast eyes my friends on nature in her prime—
Dressed to the nines, unabashedly arty.
As Mother Nature exhales one more time,
She woos all creation to her party.
© Ilija Lukić 2026
I am en route to a local store…when a symphony of pleasant afternoon spring airs, wispy clouds brushed across azure skies and nearly calm Jordan Lake waters divert attention from well-laid plans to shop for a new pair of shoes. Could my restless mood, easy diversion from life's routines and newfound energy to wander and explore be spring fever?
The shoreline at Cooper’s Cove beckons. After a meandering hike to Osprey Point, I double back to the cove with frequent pauses to take in and reflect on nature’s offerings of physical and spiritual sustenance. My heart, soul and mind soar as my essence reaches out to a solitary raptor and shorebirds on the wing above placid lake waters.
As in years past, last traces of pine pollen still accent beach sands with warm hues; while once again, baby-green foliage highlights the spring renewal along wooded shores—where mere days ago stark tree skeletons whispered of inhospitable winter nights for man and beast.
Life’s a bumpy ride
Time soothes gnarly encounters
Grace unburdens soul
© Ilija Lukić 2026
Fallen Loblolly Pine needles gently take the edge off the ravages time, elements and the heavy hand of human activity have bestowed on surface roots of the mother tree that nurtured them in their summer heydays. Her majestic canopy reaches defiantly into vernal skies mid whispers carried on spring breezes. I lend ear to her tale about the circle of life, her patience, her resilience and optimism in the face of uncertainty. I allow her message to unburden my soul, reassured that no matter how gnarly the encounters on the road of life…they too will pass.
