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Elegy for a Cowboy Cousin

An autumn wind is stirring strong across the dusty hills,
As tumbleweeds leave skittered tracks within the sandy rills.
The western sun is slanting deep through breaks in gathering sky,
And washes waning villages where watchful ravens fly.

Here in Round Top’s ruffling breeze a mind is free to soar
Through space and time, left unconfined above this desert floor.
Dry earth disturbed by iron tools awaits a planted seed.
And I, reflecting on your life, regretfully concede

A languor born of putting off, assuming all is well.
You really weren’t that far away but I could not dispel
Illusions of intransience, neglecting every sign
Of time’s erosive adamance as weathered years unwind.

Earth to earth and dust to dust, the destiny of flesh;
Your spirit freed in fenceless fields as life begins afresh.
Kindred is the blood we shared, our paths but seldom spanned,
As breezes clear a distant dawn, I know we’ll meet again.

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Dan Tuton is a poet living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After an initial career as a family therapist, he has been ordained as an Episcopal priest since early in 2004. He initially served a parish in the Baltimore area for four years, and have been the Vicar, then Rector of Hope in the Desert in Albuquerque until retiring in 2023.

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20 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Beautiful elegy and tribute that brought a lump to my throat. I lost a cousin who was also my best friend in life this year and he was from a western state. The various alliterations throughout the poem were sincere, purposeful, and added to the exquisite flow of your poem.

    Reply
    • Dan J Tuton

      Thanks very much, Roy. My condolences on your loss, and I’m glad you found this little poem meaningful. God bless you.

      Reply
  2. Mark Stellinga

    A very moving piece, Dan, and extremely well written. This piece brought a brief and pleasant pause to what I’m focused on this morning, and that takes a damn good poem. Excellent rhyme & meter!

    Reply
    • Dan J Tuton

      Thank you very much, Mark. I, too, have been rather preoccupied the past few days. Your encouraging feedback is deeply appreciated!

      Reply
  4. Brian A. Yapko

    A most beautiful and moving poem, Fr. Dan. The emotions you convey are complex, deep and infused with love and regret. You’re especially adept at connecting the imagery of the Old West to the rugged individualism of the cousin and the rueful state of mind of the speaker.

    Reply
    • Dan J Tuton

      Brian, as always, thanks so much for your attentive and encouraging feedback. You clearly perceived my intent, and your approbation is gratifying. Blessings!

      Reply
  5. Isabella

    This is truly wonderful ! So lyrical and moving. I really enjoyed reading your beautiful poem. My condolences to you.

    Reply
    • Dan J Tuton

      Thank you, Isabella, for your condolences, and for sharing your appreciation. Both lift my heart! God bless.

      Reply
  6. rohini

    So beautiful and moving. Loved the phrase, ‘Time’s erosive adamance’ and echoes of a very old song that my mother used to sing: ‘your spirit freed in fenceless fields…’
    Thank you for this perfect elegy.

    Reply
    • Dan J Tuton

      Rohini, thank you so much for sharing your appreciation! I’m curious to hear more about the song your mother used to sing. Thanks again!

      Reply
  7. Paul A. Freeman

    Very evocative. I particularly enjoyed the final stanza.

    Thanks for the read, Dan.

    Reply
  8. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Beautifully crafted with a beautiful message – I particularly like: “Earth to earth and dust to dust, the destiny of flesh; / Your spirit freed in fenceless fields as life begins afresh.” – the adept employment of alliteration lifts the message to greater heights. Great stuff!

    Reply
    • Dan J Tuton

      Susan, as always I deeply appreciate your encouraging feedback! I’m told that, in Native American lore, crows and ravens often point to a “thinness in the veil”, which in this case is intended to evoke a breeze of freedom. You perceived the heights. Thanks again!

      Reply
  9. James A. Tweedie

    Dan, It’s good to get a hint of cowboy poetry on this site, especially when it’s as good as yours. My favorite alliteration being, where “the western sun . . . washes waning villages where watchful ravens fly.” Lovely and heartfelt. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Dan J Tuton

      James, thanks for your encouraging feedback. You accurately perceived my intent to pattern the meter and rhyme scheme to at least echo some of the structure of a cowboy poem. Thanks again, and God bless!

      Reply
  10. Margaret Coats

    “Time’s erosive adamance” is a wonderful (and appropriately gentle) way of expressing likeness to Adam and necessary demise due to Original Sin. The multiple images of cowboy color in the landscape, and the regretful break coming right at the center of the poem make this a tenderly touching elegy.

    Reply
    • Dan Tuton

      Margaret, thank you so much for your kind words. You clearly embraced my intent, and even went a step further by noticing the (unconscious and unintentional) play on the words Adam and adamance. I guess the spirit-self was working overtime! Thanks again.

      Reply

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