 Songs of the Soul
Nona
Kelley Carver
Carver
Country Poetry
Reviewed by
Kathryn Retzler
"Spoken
Songs from my Soul," Nona Kelly Carver’s latest
book is
a poignant and very personal collection of her poetry, drawings and
photographs.
Carver, who has been writing poetry since the early 1990s and is best
known
for her cowboy poetry and greeting cards, has included many poems
recited
at “Cowboy Church” and poetry gatherings throughout the west. "Spoken
Songs from my Soul" includes favorites like "The Little Country
Church,"
"Grandma's Bible," "An Old Cowboy's Prayer" and "Daddy's Rose."
Although
the book is primarily Christian in content and reflects many of
Carver’s
personal experiences, it also contains other wonderful, descriptive and
non-secular poems like "Summer Time," "The Gift of Friendship,"
"Wildflowers,"
"Harvest Time," "Yankee Boy Basin" and "Daughter of the Prairie," that
are just plain good reading.
The book
will also serve as a catalogue for ordering favorite
greeting
cards. Those available on card stock are indicated with *title*.
Paperback.
142 pages. © Carver Country Poetry 2004
 Potbellied
Pete & Luley Belle (CD)
The CD is a series of 17 poems about the bunk house cook and the local
school marm. Nona reports, "This series got rave reviews when it was
printed as a serial story in the Plateau Valley Times. Only then, the
folks had to wait for the next paper to read the next poem!" Potbellied
Pete & Luley Belle (46 minutes).
To order
"Spoken Songs from my Soul," or the CD Potbellied Pete & Luley
Belle, please send $16.00 to
Carver Country
Poetry, P.O. Box 115, Mesa, CO 81643. Please allow three weeks
for
delivery. 970-268-5429
Cowboys,
Cookstoves & Catastrophes
Carver
Country Cowboys
both by Nona
Kelley
Carver
Carver
Country Poetry Mesa,
CO, 2000
Two
charming books
of cowboy poetry written by Carver, a rancher and writer, who has
performed
at the National Cowboy Poetry Symposium in Lubbock, Texas, and one of
whose
songs, "Daughter of the Prairie," was recently recorded by national
recording
artist Jean Prescott, for her CD, "Range Romance."
Both books
available
from the author, Carver Country Poetry, PO Box 115, Mesa, CO 81643.
$12.95
each.
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"She
Ain’t No
Cowboy Poet"
They
were looking at a poster that advertised my work.
Two
old Coots in cowboy boots, and one took a little jerk
On
the mustache that he twiddled twixt his finger and his thumb.
"A
woman cowboy poet? naw, I’d say she looks too dumb!
See
that flappy skirt she’s wearing that hangs below her knees?
I’ll
bet she don’t know cockleburs from tinsel Christmas trees!
And
her boots are kind of fancy, but this one thing is sure,
I
caint see green stuff on ‘em, indicating cow manure.
And
that hat ain’t made for riding, or for going at a lope.
To
say that she’s a poet, is like saying she’s The Pope!
I
just stood there smiling as the other took it up.
He
looked like he’d been born before Ole’ Hector was a pup.
|
"Well,
she ain’t none to purty, and I doubt she’s got good sense.
Her
figger’s like a washtub jest a hanging on the fence!
She’d
have to rope and brand a calf, and ride for quite a spell,
‘Fore
she’d have the ammunition for a cowboy tale to tell.
I’ll
be she don’t know country from them city ballyhoos!
It’s
sure she wouldn’t understand real ole’ buckaroos.
I’ll
be she’s never smelt the smell of branded cattle’s hide
And
IF she ever rode a horse, I’ll be the poor thing died!
I could see
their
gears were
spinning, as the one ran out of breath,
While the
other said
a horsefly
would just scare me half to death.
Again they
eyed the
poster,
and one saw the final tip.
"See? She
ain't no
cowboy
poet! There's no mustache on her lip!" |
Nona Kelly
Carver performs as a cowboy poet in Colorado and Arizona and appears
regularly at the National Cowboy
Symposium, Cheyenne
Cowboy Synposium and Celebration, Wyoming, the Durango Cowboy
Gathering and Diamond
Circle Theatre, Durango, Colorado, and the
Cochise
Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering, Sierra Vista, Arizona.
<>Her work is published regularly in the Plateau Valley Times,
her local newspaper, and The San Juan Silver Stage. Nona was nominated
for best female poet by the Academy
of Western Artists. Read more about Nona at www.cowboypoetry.com
BELOW, poems from Songs of the Soul
COUNTRY CHURCH
As memory weaves a pathway through my
heart to yesterday,
There’s a scene that comes before me
that I know is there
to stay.
In a quiet grove of aspens, with their
trunks as white
as birch,
In the shadows of my childhood, stands a
little country
church.
It was not a grand cathedral, just a
chapel made of wood,
For a country congregation where the
fellowship was good.
There were days of celebration, when our
happiness was
shared.
There were also days of sorrow, when we
wept because we
cared.
We were bathed and combed and polished,
dressed up in
our Sunday best,
To walk down to the chapel and observe
God’s day of rest.
Soft strains of organ music floated
gently on the breeze,
And the birds joined in the chorus from
the branches of
the trees.
We were greeted by our neighbors who had
come to worship
God
In the little wooden chapel on this
sacred piece of sod.
Sometimes Mama played the organ as she
sang a hymn of
praise,
And Daddy held us in his arms, as
anthems he would raise.
The pastor preached a sermon as we sat
there in that place
As he opened up his Bible to explain
Amazing Grace.
He spoke of love and courage, and with
simple honesty,
Set forth God’s plan for living, with
salvation being
free.
There were christenings and weddings,
when the old church
bells would ring,
And other times we gathered just to
fellowship and sing.
When the snow lay deep in winter, we
might go there in
the sleigh.
Sometimes, we took our dinner when there
was a special
day.
Yes, my memory often leads me to that
time of long ago,
And the little country church yard, and
the friends that
I loved so.
Where the Good Lord in His wisdom gently
led us in the
way
That he knew that we should follow even
in our walk today.
When I leave this world behind me and my
spirit is set
free,
I’ll be singing with the angels, as they
come to welcome
me.
And I know where I’ll be going when the
time arrives to
part,
<>For the truth learned in the country
church was written
in my heart.
<><>
© 1998 Nona Kelley Carver
|
DADDY’S ROSE
“May I please have a rose from my
daddy’s grave?”
The little girl wept as she ask it.
And someone reached forth and took one
of red
From the bouquet on top of the casket.
“Oh, thank you, kind sir, I’ll hang it
to dry,”
She sobbed through her torrent of tears,
“For it will remind me of how much he
loved
And cared for me all through the years.”
I wanted to keep him always with me,
For he had such strong, gentle hands.
And again her tears flowed as they
lowered him down,
To be covered by loose shifting sands.
They led her away as she clung to the
rose,
To the cabin beside the dark hills.
And the sadness that followed was silent
and deep,
As the night wind brought moaning and
chills.
The mother cried, too, as she held her
dear child,
Though she tried hard some comfort to
give.
And they vowed they would cling to the
memories they shared,
And remember he wanted to live.
And God in His mercy gave peace to them
then,
With compassion that only God knows.
With the dawning of morning, the little
girl smiled,
<>As she reached out to touch, “Daddy’s
Rose.”
<><>
© 1999 Nona Kelley Carver
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DAUGHTER OF
THE PRAIRIE
Daughter of the prairie,
this is your wedding day.
These thoughts are from your
mother,
as you go on your way.
Remember that I love you,
as it is time to part.
I give to you my blessing.
Please hold it in your heart.
Daughter of the prairie,
where will you lay your head
when the day's long ride is ended,
and it's time to go to bed?
Will you lie beside your cowboy,
spread a blanket on the sod?
Will you dream of home and family
while you search the stars for God?
Will you see the moon come rising
when the night is cool and still?
Hear a lonely coyote howling?
Hear the whirring whippoorwill?
Will you feel the night breeze
stirring
through your loose and curling hair?
Will your cowboy dream beside you,
as your life with him you share?
I will miss your cheerful presence,
and the happy songs you sang,
For on the day that you were born,
the bells of heaven rang.
In my memory, I will always
hear your laughter, see your smile.
And I trust your man is worthy,
and will go that second mile.
For you filled my life with
sunshine,
brought me pleasure as a gift.
And whenever I was weary,
you would give my soul a lift.
You were magic in my morning,
happiness throughout my day.
I will grieve when we have parted,
but you must be on your way.
For a new life now awaits you,
as you are fully grown.
And I pray you will be happy,
and have babies of your own.
Then you will know the treasure
that you have been to me.
No, I will not hold you near me,
as I want you to be free.
Free to love your handsome cowboy.
Free to help him build a home.
Free to ride into the sunset,
free to see the ocean's foam.
But a part of me goes with you,
as you ride out today,
For your father was a cowboy,
and we started out that way.
© Nona Kelley Carver
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FIELDS
OF DIAMONDS
Thick frost clung to every branch,
Adorned each sparkling
tree.
The beauty of it touched my soul
And set my spirit
free.
The fog had rolled in 'ere the night
Had gently slipped away,
And silvered every waiting branch
As sunlight lit the day.
The glistening snow, so cold and white
Had drifted here and there,
And fairies danced across the fields
With diamonds in their hair.
The wonder of it took my breath,
And tears began to
fall.
I said goodbye to autumn,
As winter came to call.
© Nona Kelley Carver
Proverbs 31:21 She is not
afraid of the snow
for her household,
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
AN OLD
COWBOY’S PRAYER
I’ve been a long time coming, Lord,
But now, I’m riding in.
I see those gates just shining,
Where no pain is felt within.
I heard the angels singing, Lord,
When they came to escort me.
They let me ride my favorite mare
On in to eternity.
I’m thankful for my days on earth,
And my family there below.
They knew quite well my time had come,
But they grieved to see me go.
I ask that you give them comfort, Lord,
For I’m in a better place.
Please let them know that I rest in
peace,
Thanks to your matchless grace.
I’m thankful that you blessed me with
A long and eventful life;
For a happy home with my children close,
And a loving and faithful wife.
Please let them know that I love them,
Lord,
And all fear has been put aside.
I will wait for a grand reunion,
When they, too, cross the Great Divide.
© 2001 Nona Kelley Carver
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EPILOGUE
How God Used My Down Time to Lift Me Up
Many years ago, when my husband and I owned
and operated
a dairy farm, I had been assisting him with field work. I jumped
down from the high diesel tractor I was driving and twisted an ankle,
tearing
ligaments and doing damage that would plague me throughout my
life.
When the cast and crutches were finally put aside, it was back to
business
as usual. However, the weakened ankle would occasionally fail to
hold in some unguarded moment, with the result being six weeks of
crutches
and pain.
In 1994, I stepped on an uneven place in a
sidewalk and
found myself in a rumpled lump on the cement. I was alone, four
steps
from my car. Somehow, I managed to get myself into the car and
drive
the twenty-five miles home. I pushed the button that activated the
garage
door opener and drove into the garage. I could not get out of the
car. I had ruptured a small artery in the fall, and my ankle was
already purple and twice the normal size. My faithful husband
appeared
and helped me to my bed. There he elevated and iced the injury
and
called my doctor. Examination showed no broken bones, but I must
lie with the leg elevated for six weeks for the blood clots to
dissolve.
The level of pain was more than I could bear if I put my foot
down.
My husband brought food to the bed. My parents came and heated
dinners
I had previously prepared and frozen for their use and shared them with
me at lunch time. My eldest son and daughter-in-law brought
grandchildren
to visit. My Pastor called. Friends brought gifts of cheer,
food and encouragement. I prayed for strength and wisdom.
It was during this time that little bits of
poetry began
forming in my mind. I was in too much pain to sleep, and unable
to
do anything else, so I began writing the poems down as I received
inspiration.
I truly believe it was God's gift to me to help me through a difficult
time. I had written a few pieces of poetry prior to this, but
very
little. I had no professional training, and had never been
instructed
on "How to Write Poetry." It just came, and I wrote it
down.
By the time I could sit up comfortably again, I began drawing cartoons
to illustrate my work. I had enough material for two small
books.
I went to the local library and began study of current copyright law,
and
laid the ground work for Carver Country Poetry. Mr. Jack Hart of
PrintMasters in Grand Jct. CO assisted me in choosing a format and
printing
my books. "The Tarnish on the Golden Years," a spoof on
"Wrinkles,
Retirement
and Rotten Memory" was my first book. "Cowboy Poetry," "Cowboys
Cookstoves"
and "Catastrophes and Carver Country Cowboys" came later. My
CarverCards,
poems in greeting card form, helped pay for publishing the books, and
gave
me an outlet for the material written to share my faith with family and
friends. Writing and reciting Cowboy Poetry added to the variety
of subjects and opened new doors. A recording session resulted in
two CDs, "Carver Country Poetry" (funny stuff) and "Reflective Moods"
(Inspirational
Poetry). I continue to be amazed by the volume of work that has
proved
to be both a blessing and a challenge.
Questions remain unanswered in my mind.
Why did
God choose to wait until I was a grandmother before letting me know I
could
write? Had I just been too caught up in the busyness of everyday
life to listen to His instruction? Truly, I needed time to learn from a
lifetime of experience. Would I have the physical strength to
carry
out the plans He let form in my mind? Would my lack of formal
education
undermine my confidence? Would laughter and tears come at the
appropriate
places? Could my work find a place in the hearts of my
readers?
Would God use it to lift the load of others and lighten their days with
laughter? I believe He can. It is because of this belief
that
I share my poetry with you.
Nona Kelley Carver
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