Category: Poetry

Lesson From a Storm

March 17, 2026 | Poetry | Comments
Third cutting Fine and bright I had mowed raked hauled and stacked it With schoolmates just Two months before Also that summer We had dug a deep well Run a pipe to the barn Plumbed in a frost-free spigot Through it we now filled buckets of H-2-0 for the ewes Read more

Season Over

March 4, 2026 | Poetry | Comments
Well, the season’s over Quail paired off for mating Tack and chaps hung in the trailers Points tallied, Gulf fishing boats awaiting Trialers take stock Of the season just completed Count the pluses-minuses Is the glass half full or empty? Read more

Last Call

February 3, 2026 | National Championship, Poetry | Comments
’Twas at the National Championship in 20?? After all the entries ran and failed to make a case Not a single covey had been stood, bumped or chased The three distinguished judges were disgusted with the place At lunch they called a huddle to decide what now to do One had a flask of whiskey, one a flask of gin The third a batwing of brandy if you can believe that sin The senior judge said call ‘em back till we get one worth the win Read more

If

November 26, 2025 | Poetry | Comments
If you hunted birds With your son Over pointing dogs You bred and raised Your son did too And built that bond Where the dogs are the glue And a point binds all generations First, middle and last Read more

Happiest Days

November 15, 2025 | Poetry | Comments
My happiest days Were spent horseback Riding at field trials Watching dogs explore For coveys of quail Or sharp tails or Huns  In wire grass or prairie grass Wheat stubble or weeds  Watching them freeze  Stand rigid and tall Waiting for handler To get there to flush  Then watered and released To stretch out for the front  To find more to point  At the end of a cast From first breakaway To the end of the day Looking for the one  That lays down the great race Read more

Drive at Dawn through Tidewater Farms

November 7, 2025 | Poetry | Comments
I drove at dawn today West through Virginia’s Tidewater counties Soil sandy, flat and fertile British names Suffolk (now a city, used to be Nansemond County) Isle of Wight Southampton Sussex Harvest time has come at last Peanuts dug and in windrows drying Waiting for the combine Farmers fearing rain or freeze or both That renders the precious nut worthless Corn this year grew wonderfully From planting to maturity Most Read more

Two Scout Adventure

October 4, 2025 | Poetry | Comments
The heat ended with  Both dogs unseen  The senior judge said,  “Time’s up, you got twenty minutes” The scouts on the flanks Cantered ahead To search for their dogs Pointed they hoped Read more