Our great western landscape
like the wilderness east of Jerusalem
. mandates prophets.
Seers wandering in the shadows of mesas
. and canyons bounding the wide
. endless dry, ancient sea beds
Places for the desperate
. and the mad,
a land of delusions, mirage,
. and brilliance, rocks, sky
. and quick flashing storms of summer.
Pueblo Indian country, Ute and Mormon country,
. gamblers, cows, and stubborn believers
. in wild religions,
seeing glory beyond their hard lives.
Veils cover the stark emptiness.
. Kent Bowker 8/10/14
Kent, I also raged against the authority of my religious roots