San Simeon

Fishing for (Paralichthys californicus)
California Halibut
Wind drifting on the inshore shallows
two rods each
baited with dead anchovies below
a scampi teaser on top
Light gear
15 lb. test on small reels
That was the plan

Negative on the surf launch
No victory at sea
Scuttled by winds beyond brisk
tearing off wave tops at dawn…

(excerpt…)

– ©Christopher Nielsen
– image – Coastal Eucalyptus Grove (above)
– images – Back to Nature 1-4 (below)
©Christopher Nielsen 1998

Sunsets – Out West

Open lands,
open skies
that’s the dream
and reality

Sun and horizon
closing steadily
another day
into evening

Clouds ablaze
campfire colors
roaring in the heavens
out west

– ©Chris Nielsen 2018
– image – Out West Sunset
©Chris Nielsen 2018

The Abandoned Cotton Gin

Workers’ voices carry
black and white newsreel plays
machinery echoes
apparitions of
booming days gone by…

(email me for more of the poem)

– ©Chris Nielsen 2018
– image – Abandoned Cotton Gin
©Chris Nielsen 2017

Meet at the Grange

Let’s all meet at the Grange
history abounds in this country house
meeting and dancing hall.

Going far back in time
Scotland Grange House 1564,
leveled in 1906.

Grange No.1 in Fredonia 1868
from secret to public
benefit the greater rural good
non-partisan. Welcome co-ops, mail service,
temperance and suffragettes.
Help farmers grow their farms
ranchers with livestock, homesteaders
being for the benefit
of the bucolic community.

A center for rural fellowship
real country music.
Rose Maddox, The Dooley Brothers
the ghosts of Woody Guthrie
and Hank Williams.
Voices of the land
fiddling, banjos, guitars.
Square dances, dare we say
hootenannies.

Local farms decline
the great corporate land swallowing.
Granges shuttered and dusty
few lights still shine, over wooden steps
we can walk right up. Open the door
greeted by lilting old-time country notes,
dancers dancing, let’s all meet
at the Grange.

– ©Christopher Nielsen 2018
– image – The Fairfax Grange
©Christopher Nielsen 2017

From darkness

Light the way
let creativity burn

find your spark
in art
sketch draw paint the way
to peace light
on the edge
aware
away from the abyss

nullify anger despair
with music
your song
songs
in your heart
poured out from the soul
of humanity
sing out
in hope

art created
exists inside
before the world can see
show what you have
outward expression
inner desire dreams
this way
the very act
makes a better place
for all

believe
create
thrive
joy

– ©Chris Nielsen 2018
– image – Oaks on the Mountain
©Chris Nielsen 2018

Timing

Who doesn’t like clocks
Would rather know time
To feel it
Than be reminded
Every hour
Half and quarter
Chime bells
Not Greenwich
But mean

Freedom from clocks
Absent watches
Time disappears
Though not gone
Live in your own pace
Wait for no one
Who does not wait
For you

– ©Chris Nielsen 2018
– image – Antiquated by Time
©Chris Nielsen 2017

A walk in nature

A walk in nature
to clear your troubled mind
to cure what’s ailing you
the wind is light
the birds are soaring
the air is sweet and cool
the sun is warm
the bees are buzzing
the trees and flowers
weather the storm
we can too…

– ©Chris Nielsen 2017
– image – In the Meadow
©Chris Nielsen 2017

Out West – Ode Two

Foothills to mountains
roads to trails
so many places
to get lost
plenty of space
to find yourself
out west

– ©Chris Nielsen 2018
– image – Out West -2
©Chris Nielsen 2018

Journey to Big Sur

Dark, rainy Central Valley,
in a ponder,
thinking, daydreaming.
Big Sur —
where primeval redwoods
reach for the ever stirring Pacific…

(excerpt…)

– ©Christopher Nielsen
– image – Along Highway 1
©Christopher Nielsen 1979

Turning Points

Out of disaster
Calm

Following pain
Sweet relief

After tragedy
Turning points

Despair breeds
So does hope

A song in the air
Carries afar

Falling into
Listening ears

Perfect timing
Inspiration

Sparks created
Lighting the way

– ©Chris Nielsen 2018
– image – Hope Rainbow
©Chris Nielsen 2018