Albert1434

These three poems form a quiet arc of a life — from the innocence of boyhood, through the ache of adult regret, to the tempered clarity of hard‑won wisdom. Each piece stands on its own, yet together they read like chapters of the same inner autobiography. “Within” is tender without ever becoming saccharine. It captures the sacredness of childhood friendship with a precision that feels lived rather than imagined. The imagery — blue‑stained lips, dragonflies, ragweed swords — is vivid enough to summon memory even in readers who never lived such a summer. Beneath the playfulness runs a subtle emotional current: the dawning awareness of love in its earliest, purest form. The final stanza lands with quiet force, revealing that the meadow was not just a place, but a beginning. “If Only” shifts into adulthood with a stark honesty that refuses to hide behind poetic flourish. The speaker confronts cowardice, loss, and the self‑deceptions that feel noble in the moment but hollow in hindsight. The poem’s strength lies in its restraint — no melodrama, just the steady, painful accounting of choices not taken. The repeated “if only” becomes a tolling bell, marking the distance between what was possible and what remains. “Lessons” is the distilled voice of someone who has lived long enough to understand that wisdom rarely arrives gently. The haiku‑like structure suits the content: brief flashes of truth, each one earned. The poem acknowledges darkness, hope, pride, and humility with the simplicity of someone who has stopped performing for the world and started speaking plainly. Taken together, these poems reveal a writer unafraid to look backward, unafraid to admit fault, and unafraid to name beauty where it once lived. They are intimate without being confessional, emotional without being indulgent, and honest in a way that lingers.

These poems trace a quiet, deeply human journey — from the innocence of boyhood in Within, to the ache of regret in If Only, to the distilled clarity of Lessons. Each piece is vivid without excess, honest without self‑pity, and grounded in lived experience. Together they form a portrait of a life marked by tenderness, missteps, and the wisdom that comes only after both. They linger because they feel true.

I’m mighty glad those lines settled with you. A cowboy’s life was a hard trail, but there was a kind of truth in it — a man riding for more than coin, following something he couldn’t name but felt all the same. If the poem caught even a piece of that, then it did its job.

Thank you for saying that. If the poems struck something hidden, then I’m grateful they found their way to it. There’s no shame in being moved by a line or a sound — it only means you’re human enough to feel what most keep buried. And yes… whatever chord it touched, that stays between us.

A Cowboy’s Choices He rose with the sun on a dust‑colored morn, Boots worn thin, hat weather‑torn. The trail ahead was wide as the sky, But every mile asked who and why. He could ride for the wages, ride for the land, Ride for the memory of his father’s hand. Or turn his horse toward a softer life, One without storms, hunger, or strife. But a cowboy’s heart ain’t built for ease— It leans toward wind and open seas Of prairie grass and drifting herds, Where silence

Poems about Cowboys

Nope I used the right one!

The things you see here are unbelievable!

Aloha All

Thank you so much for this thoughtful review. I’m glad the chapter resonated with you. The power struggle at the heart of the story is meant to feel layered and unpredictable, because—as you pointed out—so many of the players are driven by motives that aren’t always noble or transparent. Questioning loyalties becomes essential when every faction believes it alone deserves authority. I’m especially pleased that the line about the governed and the clergy stood out to you. Their influence is often underestimated, yet they can shift the balance more dramatically than any army or ruler. Your connection to issues in today’s world is exactly the kind of reflection I hoped the story would spark. History tends to echo itself, and the tensions between power, faith, and public trust are as relevant now as ever. Thank you again for reading so closely and engaging so deeply with the themes. Your insight adds another layer to the conversation.

Yellowstone nearing eruption as new study finds magma brimming below the surface: scientists! Now this is scarey!

We have had 100 aftershocks!

I am never wrong!

Its so good that you said you would Gary!

I am!

I thought I would let you all know that I have start Book II Called HEARTS OF IRON, HEARTS OF FIRE!

I thought you were in shock that's Birthday shock!

Thank you for such an insightful look into the shifting tides of the story. Louis is indeed laying the foundations for what he hopes will be a decisive campaign. His ambitions depend heavily on the fragile loyalty of his English supporters and the steady flow of supplies, men, and arms from across the Channel. Without those lifelines, his cause stands on dangerously thin ice. Time is slipping through his fingers, and the hunt for spies grows ever more urgent. They move quietly, but they understand little of the dangers that await them in the fens and around Wynthrope. That ignorance may yet be their undoing. With Kaylen now an Earl, and Ser Thomas and Ser Ronan elevated beside him, the trio finds themselves surrounded by threats on all sides. Some enemies stand openly before them, but the more treacherous ones lurk behind—those untested, unproven, and eager to strike from the shadows. The worst serpents are always the ones that haven’t shown their fangs. I appreciate your thoughtful reading, and I’m glad these tensions are resonating. The storm ahead will test every oath and every bond they hold.

I guess your wash them now Chris Those are Drew! You know what they say finder keepers!

Thank you for your continued support of the tale. Earl Kaylen, Sir Thomas, and Sir Ronan have indeed earned their new titles from King Henry through steadfast service to both Crown and country. Their rise, however, only marks the beginning of what will be demanded of them. As they ride toward Oxford, the weight of responsibility grows heavier. Louis will not yield easily, and the next clash will test their loyalty, their courage, and the bonds that hold them together. The road ahead is uncertain, but our trio has never been ones to shrink from what must be done. I’m glad these developments resonated with you, and I look forward to sharing the next chapter of their journey.

Thank you for such a thoughtful reflection on the chapter. Kaylen, Tomas, and Ronan have certainly earned their honors, but you’re absolutely right—recognition often draws the eyes of those who would rather undermine than celebrate. Their path forward won’t be without shadows. The Keep’s resilience under threat, thanks to the Baron and the marsh men, marks a turning point, but not a conclusion. England may be bracing itself, yet the true tests still wait on the horizon. The final battles will demand more from every one of them than anything they’ve faced so far. I’m glad these moments resonated with you, and I’m excited for you to see what comes next.

Knight and Squire The Army of God Assembled The days that followed the failed assault passed in a strange stillness, as though the very realm held its breath. Frost clung to the eaves of Gloucester, and the Severn ran dark and cold beneath the winter sky. Yet within the city walls, no man lay idle. Kaylen walked the inner ward at dawn, watching smiths set new rivets to battered helms, fletchers bind fresh shafts, and masons shore the east gate with timber and ear

Aloha All