Ravages Of Drought

With Route 66 and Tucumcari NM in the rear view mirror, I head south into the broad Quay Valley towards the meandering northern escarpment of the Llano Estacado tablelands. I pause at what appear to be forsaken structures and windmill with stock tank. Northerly winds raise billows of dust. Diffused light from the milky skies softens ravages of time and drought on the land and motley reminders of human inroads into these badlands. I lend ear and heart to the whispers of wind in the withered canopies of tree skeletons. Songs of Native Americans in pursuit of bison herds, sighs of conquistadores in search of water holes and prayers of white setters striving to eke out an existence drift on the dust-laden winds sweeping the rugged Canadian River Plain.

© Ilija Lukić 2017

Ravages Of Drought
(Off Highway 209 near Quay, New Mexico USA)

Quest For Serenity

While sunset spills awesome wonder

‘Cross calm expanse of bounding main,

Once emerald waves upon briny deep

Come to be joyful, amber ripples of Light

In search of portals within human hearts

And harried souls on quests for serenity. 

© Ilija Lukić 2017 

Divine Grace

Aye, mankind holds dear vernal essence,

While Mother Earth abounds with renewal,

When river wild breaks faith with ice floes

And in a rush of nostalgia proclaims spring.

Winter’s gone, oh happy day, winter’s gone,

Creation rejoices in God's bountiful embrace,

Swift river lends hand in shouts of adoration

With hallelujah chorus, awash in divine grace.

© Ilija Lukić 2017

Hallelujah Chorus
(Lower Haw River Natural Area near Old Bynum village in North Carolina USA)

Vernal Essence
(Lower Haw River Natural Area hiking trail follows the river bank near Old Bynum village in North Carolina USA)