Brad.....

 As the gentle winds carry me away

I look down to see the trees of green

The land covered in growth

The family farm

Oh, the memories of my life on the farm

The days of young, helping Dad with the cattle

Riding horse, fixing fence

Swathing the grass for hay

Mom's home cooked meal, sifting through the air

As we were quitting for the day

My two sisters running to the house

 As they were finishing up their chores

I see my young adulthood

As I finished up school

Headed out to work, to make a living

The oilfields, which I loved

A few more years to pass

I finally find the woman to share my life with

With dreams of tomorrow

As we raised two beautiful girls

As they gathered their wings to fly the roost

Cherishing our memories

Of their childhood past

They found their loves

Married and starting families

Bringing grandchildren, to our family to love

As the chapters of our book continues

Mine has come to a close

Keep writing the family story

There are many chapters to go

I'll be here, to never leave the farm

Remember me with love, laughter too

No sorrow please

My love, my arms will always be around you

To guide you, hug you through

Remember me with a smile

Lots of love

Stories to tell

Memories to share....

Michael VanDyke C@2026

A day of beauty

 The lake was of fantom blue

The winds blowing in from the south,

 just enough breeze to keep you cool

We saw the beaver swimming through

A first for us

Was it looking for food or a way home

I found a turtle, stuck in the rocks, it was upside down

I pulled it loose, as it was still alive

So, I gently put it back into the water

To see it gradually swim away

The Canadian geese cackling, as they lay nesting

The ducks were flocking and paddling on the water

Barn swallows making their nests, under the bridge

Flying every direction given

The fish as they jumped up from the waters to grab a bug or three

Also giving us our bounty, with a fish or two

As we packed up to head home, we started our drive

Watching the cattle graze in the wild grasses of the reserves

The rooster pheasants feeding as we drive past them

Also, the deer eating the young grass, as we drove by

The sun was high in the sky

With the gentle breezes

Fish in the cooler

Plus, good company

Making for a perfect day

For us both to enjoy...

Michael VanDyke @C 2026

Me

 I don't do that much talking these days

These days I seem to think a lot more

My hands, they seem to talk for me now

The crafting of my woodwork

The carving of my rocks

The thoughts I put on paper with my pen

I'll sit and show you how it's done

Don't ask me, just watch

One day, I saw my reflection, mirrored in the sky

With the seasons of my life

I'm getting older

My journey has been long

It's time for the quiet, let nature talk to me

From the birds in flight, chirping has they fly

Squirrels running aridic, jumping from branch to branch

Chittering at one another

A deer, looking up to see, to realize, it's only me

And become at ease

My hands are my words

My eyes are a book

Sit down with me, let's just take a look....

Michael VanDyke C@ 2026

A Day in a small town

 I could hear the howl of the coyotes

The one, very vocal

The others to follow

One, two, four to seven

I saw the Sparrows gather

Looking for seeds, maybe a few bugs

Flying under the vehicles, or in the branches of the trees

The Black birds in a bunch

Eating the fallen leaves and bark

I heard the caws of the Raven, as it flew by

Was it looking for food or just to say hi

The two bald Eagles sitting in the tall cottonwood tree

Silent, but very alert, looking at me

I see the Grouse gathered in a covey

As if to be gossip and fly away

The Pheasant rooster with its startling screech

As it takes flight to get away

I heard the Hoot Owl, in the early twilight

Telling me morning has broken

I was also watching the Magpies

Hanging around, knowing a meal or two was coming their way

In the distant sky I hear a lone goose in flight

Wondering if it flew in to early from the south

Walking down the road, a few stray cats

Going places, we wouldn't know

Maybe getting a few bites of food

From people that care

This is a day I see

In our small town...

Michael VanDyke @C 2026

Roadtrip or Dreaming..

 It was a beautiful day, blue skies, the sun glowing with its radiant heat.

A great day for a road trip, as I said to myself.

So, I grabbed my sunglasses, a light jacket, car keys and off I go.

I was a few hours into the trip and noticed I needed fuel for the car, so I see a sign "Fuel next exit".

As I pull off the highway, I see another sign saying, "Welcome to Animal Ville".

At the first crossroad intersection I hear sirens at a distant, so I pull my car over to the side of the road.

As they went flashing by, I noticed the weirdest thing, I've ever seen!

A fire truck, red in color, but full of elephants all suited up to fight fire.

Ok, curiosity had the best of me by now, so I followed the truck to the fire.

As they turned off the road towards the fire, I see a house on fire!

The elephants getting out of the fire truck grabbing picks, shovels and a few hoses!

Other elephants were using their trunks as hoses to extinguish the flames, which in part brought the flames to a smolder.

The police pulled up not too much after the fire started, two guys got out of the squad car, they weren't like you or me.

They were monkeys, uniforms, badges and all!

Questions were asked, names were taken.

The fire was finally out, and nobody was hurt, none in the house either.

The neighbors saw someone right before the fire and he disappeared into the trees!

A couple hours had gone by with the police looking around the neighborhood, finally in the trees they see something swinging from the branches.

They found the suspect, Rocky Racoon, with a mask of black over both eyes and the matches in his hand.

Why did you do it Rocky? He said with a grin, Rocket Rabbit made me do it!

We were out drinking and raiding the gardens the night before, then started playing cards with He Cliff the Crow and Mad Dog Chihuahua.

I started losing the game and they then bet me that I couldn't torch the vacant house down the street.

Well Rocky that was the wrong thing to do, so they cuff and stuff him into the squad car and off to jail they take him!

Wow, I thought to myself, this is weird! I better get some gas and get back on the road again before the day ends.

As I pull up to the fuel station to fill my car, I see a sign saying cafe, next corner., I was getting a bit hungry too.

As I fueled up my car, I walk up to the station to pay for my gas, I open the door and go inside.

There standing next to the cash register was the manager, I blinked my eyes twice, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, a giraffe with a hunchback and talking to me.

Is fuel all you wanted, want the oil checked? I said yes and no.

He had heard about the fire and asked about it, asking if I had stopped to watch it as they put the fire out, I said yes, I did and it was all under control.

I paid for my fuel, got back into my car and thought about that cafe again, well I am hungry, time to grab a bite to eat.

I pulled into the cafe parking lot, some kids were coming out and hopping into a truck, I had to look twice again and shake my head in disbelief, it was four Porcupines dressed in hats and vests.

What am I to say on what I saw?

Inside the cafe I find a seat, sat down and grabbed a menu to look at.

The waitress comes over to my table with a glass of water and asked what I wanted and read off the specials.

I look up and she's a Mallard Duck, with bright orange feet and an apron of white!

I said a burger and fries please, hold the ketchup please.

That got me to wondering, who could the cook be?

I get up and ask where the restroom is at and excuse myself.

I glanced up and peaked towards the kitchen and what did I see, a Bison, cooking my burger for me!

Dressed in a pullover apron and a bandana on his head, he clanged the bell and yelled "Order up"!

As I went back to my table the waitress brought me my burger and fries, asked me if there was anything else she could get me, I said no thank you, this will be just fine.

I ate my meal, paid my bill, left the cafe and walked to my car.

I started thinking to myself, Holy Molly, what a trip, nobody will ever believe this!

As I got onto the highway, I had driven a few more hours and miles and realized I had better get some fuel before I head back home.

I noticed a sign up ahead, what's this I see?

Bug Ville, three miles, gas, food and sleep.

Was I in for a surprise or was this really a dream?

Michael VanDyke @C 2025

The Echoes of Darkness

 As the night falls, I can hear the Morning Doves

Giving off the last notes of their song.

Off in the distance, I hear the Coyote

Howling its lonely cry.

The cattle bellowing as the night skies fall

Into the echoes of darkness.

Crickets giving away their hiding places

With the quite chirps.

The mellow breeze of the wind

As it whistles through the treetops.

The sun finally sets behind the clouds of grey

Drifting off below the horizon

Bringing up its beautiful colors of red, oranges and off set yellows.

I see and hear the Ravens, flying into the sunset

Silhouettes of black and the caws of their sound.

It's all calling nature into the night

With the echoes

The echoes of darkness......

Michael VanDyke    C@ 2025

The Pond...

 Jump into the pond

What's on the other side

Are you a time traveler

Going into the past

Or maybe to rush into the future

Take a leap of faith

Exploring the other side

What if there's a fog

Danced over by the mist

Go beyond what you see

Like the pond with a mirror of calmness

On the water so still

Jump into the pond

What's on the other side

Dive into the deep end

Step into the unknown...

Michael VanDyke C@ 2025

Going Home

 Can you ever go home

As of the times before

Seeing that old white door

Can you ever go home

Or is it of never no more

My memories can take me there

It also lets me leave

I see the long driveway

The little house

Just sitting up there

Saying come on in

The mailbox by the highway

As it always was

Would the little dog named Skippy meet me

Maybe our old dog Jeff

I see the old shed

With its paint weathered off the outer walls

A few old cars

Parked here and there

The garden as big as it ever was

The smokehouse off to the corner

These are the good memories I see

I could go home just for these

The family, life

Of old times had

Are but of memories

That I'd never want to see

The memories I can shut down if I please

Our home was a house

Just ceilings walls and floors

Nothing more, nothing less

I hear the yelling, the screams

Now I shut my memories of yesterday

No, I can't go back home

I will divide the memories

Ones to keep

Ones to share

Ones to own

Ones to care

I walk away looking back

The white door getting smaller and smaller

That's my memories being buried deep....

Michael VanDyke C@ 2025 

It Had to Go

 I've seen the battle of evermore

It came from the walls and floor

I kept thinking I don't want to see or hear this anymore

I was fogged I was confused

Days were long of nightmares of home

Staying away was easy, because of the peace I felt

Like a war, do you go to the fight or pull back to safety

To get away from it all

The nightmares of reality

I pushed it down, so far down that it couldn't control me anymore

I've seen things that most adults couldn't handle or want to see

Never talk of it, just push it away or push it deeper into my soul

It was to the point I had to forgive; I had to let go

Release me from hell, my life I wanted back

It's not the blood that bleeds, it's the memories that flow

Do you put them in a barrel to burn, let the ashes blow away

It's better than what I had, no way could I carry that today...

Michael VanDyke @C 2025

Into The Path of Yesterday

 As I see the setting sun with its vibrant colors of golden yellows, fire reds and marigold orange,

It brings the day to an end, with darkness to follow, as into the path of yesterday.

The black silhouettes of the trees in the distance, the birds in flight, finding a place to roost for the night.

The calmness of noises, as the night blankets the sky, with the feel of tranquility.

It's time for the earth to rest, gliding it into the path of yesterday.

Michael VanDyke @C 2024

Autumn

 The new season of the earths cycle has arrived

Fall, the cool temps. of the night, chilly days.

The colors of autumn, trees of green, golden yellow, lemon, chocolate brown, watermelon red, brilliant orange.

Trees shedding their leaves, as they glide to the ground, making the earths soil rich in colors. 

Blanketing the areas with a natural insulation for the little critters below.

Squirrels gather the leaves for their nests, for the winter comforts coming soon.

Insects burrowing deep with the leaves for their blanket cover.

Clouds drifting over, setting low, loaded with rain, other areas with snow.

The winds blowing the chilly air upon us.

We bundle up with warmer jackets, long pants, boots, maybe gloves too.

It's a beautiful break from the long summer months

The earth does its magic with its cycles it goes through

Enjoy the colors, the changes from summer to fall.

The coolness, to chill the bones.

The football games of your hometowns.

Children laying in the piles of leaves.

The different smells of leaves burning, as the piles vanish from the fires.

 Oh, the autumn months bring magic to our eyes, mind and soul..

Michael VanDyke @C 2024

      

The Mountain that hid

 The beautiful drive to the mountain.

Trees of green, tall, so tall they seemed to touch the sky.

The morning was of blue, clouds here and there.

The weather cool and crisp.

As the road took us upward, higher and higher.

The trees were everywhere, to the bottom of us, the sides of the cliffs, the valleys and hollows.

The running of the creek below, its rushing waters, cold as the snow-covered mountain above.

Waterfalls blending into the glazier rocks, as its tumbles to the valley below.

The clouds were getting darker, lower and heavier.

So thick, from the skies, down to the roads.

 Thousands of feet above the valley floor. 

Nothing to be seen, no trees, no sky. no valleys, no roads.

Stay in place was the safe thing to choose, two, three hours, we didn't know.

Then like magic, the clouds were lifting higher and higher.

It opened up the beauty we were missing.

We could see the treetops, ever so green, so tall.

The mountain peaks, valleys of snow.

The rocks of grey and white laying on the mountain side.

As we walked, we could hear the gathering of the head waters, as they floated to the valley, ice cold from the glaziers above.

We could see the bird's gathering food, for yet another day.

The temperature was cold, this old flannel shirt sure felt good.

As we descended down the mountain from 40* then 50* up to 65*, it was like a heatwave as we headed below.

We didn't get to see it all, because it was the mountain that hid.

Are we glad we took the trip, yes, we are glad we did.

Michael VanDyke 2024 @C....

The Cabin

 As the sun was setting behind the tall pines, deer were coming out to graze.

The birds, I think Robins, gathering food for themselves after the months of feeding their young, maybe a treat for themselves.

I see the tall wildflowers of white and purple, the little ones of yellow, blue and white.

The grass was thick, a very dark green,

Gathering moisture from the morning dew of daybreak, hours before.

A breeze came through a few moments ago, to chase the flying bugs away.

The enjoyments I see, I hear

Of natural beauty, that's offered for free.

Two chairs in the yard, side by side

With a fire pit ready to lite.

Making the night air dance with flames of warmth, from the logs within.

I see the fern with its leaves, hiding the shadows of the ground below.

As the sun sits deeper behind the trees.

Let the darkness come with quietness and blanket the sky, trees and plants.

Letting the earth take a rest before the sun rises again.

Michael VanDyke 2024 @C....

Jim

 So many memories that are now down the road.

Sixty or more years of friendship,

That carries a lot of credit.

The good Ol' days they say,

That was the yesterday's,

The todays and tomorrows

Can be just as good.

Kicked back and taking in life.

One day at a time

That was you, Jim.

We could always hear you say. 

"Let's go fishing" "Wanna go for a ride."

Gotta gets to work, make some money.

Jim, you loved life.

You loved people.

Young and old.

You loved to laugh.

And make people laugh.

You had a nick name that fit you well.

"Too Tall"

People that knew you. knew why the name fit.

You were from the heart.

Always time for family

Time for friends.

Jim you're at peace now, no more pain.

Walking in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Never "Too Tall" for your family and friends.

Going to miss Ya' good buddy...

Michael VanDyke C@ 2023

 

Seagull

 I hear the Seagull cackle away

How come you're so far inland

Did you run astray....

Their feathers of white, sometimes grey

Glissen in the sunlight

As they are in flight

Dipping their wings as the winds blow....

Where are you going

Where have you been

Now you fly to the skies

Against the horizon

Letting the winds glide you away....

I'll see you today

Will I see you tomorrow....

Will you take flight

Heading back to where you belong

The ocean of blue

The sky with clouds of white

And blue horizons beyond....

Seagull get up and fly away

Nobody knows where you are going

Nobody knows where you have been....

Michael VanDyke @C 2023

My Eyes see...

 I see the eagle high on its perch.

Taking flight with its wings spread wide.

A hawk with its lightning speed.

Its wings pulled back as its slithers the sky.

The bison below grazing on grass, moving with the wind, keeping the bugs at bay.

I see the stream as it flows, currents headed north.

The fish at ease flicking their tails as they break from travel.

As you look up to the skies, the clouds of white, blend in with the blue.

I can hear the wind as it blows through the wild crested wheat, its greens turning to gold.

There are no roads as far as I can see.

It's just nature running free.

The peace, the quiet.

The background of the mountains, with caps of white, with tips of green from the trees below.

I'll walk this walk, of prairies below.

Making my own paths for my boots to go.

Michael VanDyke @C 2023

Charish

 There's a destiny for all.

Some will achieve it.

Many will just dream it.

Don't shy away from what your heart wants.

It's the spirit of the soul.

Love forms from the heart.

It can grow into a spectacular gratification of life.

Or get torn apart from miscommunications of life.

I see two people that connected.

By their spirit, their souls.

Their love came from a seed, growing day by day.

Being cultivated by friendship, honesty and compassion.

The gentle touches of life.

Words of encouragement.

Life in peace, tranquility.

They made it happen.

Life is a road.

Some roads are smooth, some rough.

But you walk it together.

You make it work, together.

The world is ours, for the taking.

We can have what we want.

Just go get it.

Grab life to its fullest.

Love to the fullest.

Cry, talk, sing, to the fullest.

Love is there, we all see it.

Keep it, cherish it.

Repeat it every waking moment.

Love isn't hard to do.

Love isn't lost.

Love finds you.

Charish your life together.

Charish the love that found you both.

The sun rises, the sun sets.

Your spirits are a long for the ride.

Of your love, your honesty, your compassion.

Embrace life together.

Embrace forever more...

Michael VanDyke @C 2023 

Riverside

 As I look, I see the old dead fir laying over the creek.

It's cold waters flowing from the mountains above.

The ripples created from the rocks below.

The pines so tall, it blocks out the blue sky.

The berry bushes and undergrowth blanket the forest floor.

The trout, the salmon swimming the currents, finding a deep pool to relax and rest.

The edges of the creek dressed in rocks, small to boulder.

Birds flying ever so low, squirrels and other critters playing around.

The sounds of the forest creek, it's song of nature playing its tune.

I dip the water ever so cold, from the ice and snow of the mountains above.

Butterflies looking for wildflowers, stopping here and there, their pretty colors of orange and gold.

I take in the beauty of it all.

Watching the shadows of the water from the bugs swimming by.

The sun, it's peeking out as I sit under the limbs of trees, casting their shadows of coolness as I sit on a log.

The breeze is of chill with the smell of smoke from the camp fires above.

Michael VanDyke   C@ 2023

Grandma's swing..

 In church today, our Pastor was telling us a story about the old swing sets from the 1960's....

Reminded me of Grandma Clara VanDyke's swing set..

She had Dad, Willis and Henry make it for her, out of oilfield pipe!

It was heavy duty stuff and hurt if you smacked your head on it!

The boys usually did, (horsing around and all) ...

Don't know about the girls....

It was the shiniest black paint, oil base paint. I'm sure and I would bet it was from the oilfields too...LOL

Grandma thought something was up when her boys didn't fuss about making the swing set for us grandkids...

Then one day, while swinging and playing on the set, Henry came driving in with a trk and pulled over to the swing set, told all of us to get off!

He unhooked the chains from the top pipe bar, put them aside and flipped the rack into his trk..

Grandma came out of the house, yelling, asking, what was he doing??

Henry says, Mom we are pulling an engine out of a car, we need this engine hoist...

Grandma was right, they built it for pulling engines, but kept it at Grandmas for a swing set for us kids, till it was time to use it!

Grandma yells at him, as he is pulling out of the yard, "Bring it back when your done", Henry yelling and waving,Ya' Ya' Ya'.........

All reactions:other

The Knapping Pile

The Knapping Pile... 

As we drove up, I could see the glister of obsidian glass.

A pile so huge, we knew it was a Knapper's party pile.

A Glass Buttes Knapper's party pile.

As I walked the pile with camera in hand, and maybe a bucket or two, I seen the beauty of nature's natural glass.

From the volcanos and their flows as they erupted, giving us every color that they offered, laying in that pile.

Mahagany, Leopard skin, Rainbow, Aura Borealis, Black Lace, Double Flow, Triple Flow, Crazy Lace, some Red Ribbon too.

How many Knapper's were there to make a pile so magnificent and beautiful.  

How many chairs sat on that pile of glass, we call obsidian.

Knapper's chipping away at the obsidian, bring beauty for all to see.

Maybe a point, blade, spear head, or anything that came to mind.

The stories that were spoken, the stories that were heard.

Imagine the laughter and good times they had chipping away and enjoying the lost art of yesterday.

I collected some of these pieces, that glimmered in the sun.

Will pass them off to family and friends, with this story told.

As I turn from the pile and walk away, I took one more look to see the reflections of obsidian laying so far away from everybody and everything.

Amongst the trees of green, Skies of blue, sage of grey.

Coyotes howling for all to go away.

A pile nobody will ever see, except the Knapper's chipping away.

Michael VanDyke C@ 2023