Pleasant, mid-winter day
Warm winds decide to stay
Touch of spring thaws the air
Ideal life, not a care
Hidden, in frigid North
Cold destined to call forth
Prairie living unaware
Grass uncovered, and bare
Few cowboys work the range
Life will soon see big change
Barren land, overgrazed
Cattle wander, unfazed
Calmness warns of trouble
Winter’s wrath comes double
Arctic-fed winds stir up
Wet snow creates pileup
Haunting storm now arrives
Few cattle will survive
Blizzard smothers this land
Conditions, out of hand
Cowboys wait out fierce storm
Snow and cold, nasty swarm
Waiting, hours become days
Prairie, now winter’s maze
Cattle’s cries go unheard
Snow-blinded, vision blurred
Storm’s cruel hand, plays its cards
Life stops, prairie graveyards
This poem attempts to capture the daunting winter of 1886-1887 on the prairies in the Montana Territory when the Open Range’s cattle industry collapsed from its near annihilation. Russell’s artwork says even more than words can describe.
Originally published January, 2021.
Big Sky Buckeye 
Beautiful poem, some of the snow storms can be so harsh for so many, a reminder of the nor’easter snow storm in 2018 it look like a war zone here at n the Pocono Mountains with many trees down and power lines down for many days.
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Eileen, thank you for sharing your experiences with winter’s stormy conditions. During my many years in Montana, I learned to respect winter weather. Ohio’s winters are no match for those under the Big Sky.
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Your poem evoked the great ice storm of 2021 that affected much of Texas, cutting off power to hundreds of thousands of homes and leading to incredible numbers of livestock dying (as well as some humans). That sort of storm does haunt the memory, whether it’s blizzards or hurricanes that are experienced.
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Linda, your experiences capture the challenges we face when weather conditions turn for the worse, whether a blizzard, a hurricane, or something else. Growing up and living in Montana for over 50 years, one develops an appreciation to be smart and safe when a blizzard is coming.
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Russell was an amazing artist who truly knew about living on the open range. His art stirred the imagination of many and caused them to see this world for themselves. This particular painting shows the circle of life and the waiting for death. Winter gets me thinking about both of those things.
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Kathy, I appreciate your insights. Indeed, Russell had first-hand experience with the challenges of the open range. Thankfully, he stepped away from the life of a cowboy to become a renowned artist.
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Beautiful poem that evokes memories of the harsh winters in Maine. Of course, I was not outside as depicted in the picture. What a tribute to survival and God’s provision!
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Vickie, I always appreciate how you share your faithful witness with many of my poems. I’ve experienced winter’s harsh conditions several times when I was living in Montana. Ohio’s winters are so much more mild.
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Vivid imagery! 🙂
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Nancy, thank you for reading and offering your perspective. Russell’s watercolor provided an excellent opportunity to take in the scene.
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