Rolling Hills.

An ode to South Dakota's western embrace, a land often unconsidered

Between the rolling hills of South Dakota
Under canopy of heaven high and prairie low,
A mast of land oft lay forgotten
Whither there, nobody knows.
.
Ne’er a tune sung so sweetly
Whistled through wildgrass bending in western wind,
A lone barn stands within shadow’s sweep
Where secrets rest and silence sleeps.
.
O should one loe traveler afford
To witness capacious beauty such as this,
A hymn of dirt and of life, unyielding
Plainly it lay, easy to miss.
.
Through weary hands behold
Cracked fingers mottle the earth
The steady hand shall ever prevail
A quotidian testimony of new life;
Rebirth.
.
Wander forth upon ye unpaved trails
Where luminous green stretches weave in silent grace,
Embrace the beauty that creation hails
In pastures veiled, untouched by time’s clutching embrace.
.
In billows cast by fleeting thoughts behold
A quiet splendor rests in stillness found;
Though many minds may leave these lands untold
The still small whispers of God resound.

"Whatcha lookin’ at?”

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As a city boy, the family farm has always felt a bit curious to me—a land of mystery and intrigue, stories shared in the wind—can you hear them?

Some of my best reflection pieces and writing were born here, in the open expanse of birds, prairie, and the subtle smell of manure (or “money” as most farmers would not-so-politely rebuttal).

The farm has a way of slowing me down, making me think more methodically about my day-to-day behaviors in a way that no other setting seems to do. In the grandeur of wilderness I find myself feeling quite small, along with my problems that all but fade against a tapestry of wild open blue.

I figured I might as well try to write about it. Capture it in some unique way. I’m not convinced I did it any justice to the feeling that is alive within me, perhaps another piece will come along in the future to continue to try, to shadow, to color and bring to life the wonder that, while often overlooked, is right before our eyes.

Here is my attempt at illustrating the picture taken below. Done with fine-point sharpie