Here's to the Haiku Cowboy

The empty saddle
A lone cowboy pondering
A poem of loss
- Sam W.

Hey, whisky or wine?
Hoffman house bartender asks…
You know now. Here's Oh!
- Sam W.

Rolling poetry
Light a fire in the snow
Smoke rising by the river
- Sam W.

Wondering about
Who is the haiku cowboy
Peter Merrill West
-Sam W.

The Haiku Cowboy
Gazes up at the night sky
Alone in his truck
- Elena W.

Peter, Pete, Pedro
The North Woods beckons him, come
Bushwhack, swim, paddle
- Elena W.

Opportunities
Scrambled eggs and leftovers
What is on my plate?
- Elena W.

Woodsmoke and sawdust
Beef jerky and cold coffee
Peter grips the wheel
- Elena W.

River valley life
Primal howling at the sky
Sauna refreshes
- BJG

Beach, rocks, Cabin red
Swift, murky the currents run
Rafters pass, raucous
- BJG

Drive as rivers run
Eat and drink, families and future
Gasp! My life’s complete
- BJG

Waves rippling on bend
Paddleboat splitting downriver
Peace interrupted
- BJG

Smack, mosquito bite
Underwater the rock tops are slick
Joyous the river
- BJG

Lazy day of blue sky
Rock formation hiking path
Skyline he could trace
- BJG

Quiet through bare trees
Mysterious yet vast
His whole world moving
- BJG

The chill overcoming
Indulgence bursting within
Unprecedented
- BJG

Dark storm rises West
Quiet type, rugged and proud
Diabolical
- BJG

Clip-Clop the horse goes
He sits for a lonely period
Horizon ahead
- BJG

A creek that babbles
Spring wildflowers have sprung
The discourse of rain
- BJG

Imagination
Irresponsibility
Exacerbation
- BJG

Civilization
Industrialization
Deforestation
- BJG

Fleet of foot; slow meals.
Adventures to many worlds
Carry you forward.
- Jon C.

Pete, you’re consistent.
Your method puts heart in front,
Seeking, every day.
- Jon C.

Energy bursts in
The calm room, interrupted
Hi, brother-in-law
- Kateri T.

Inside people, sing!
Oh, how we love to relax
Wait, where is Peter?
- Kateri T.

Technology takes...
Sucks us into the abyss
He builds a way out
- Kateri T.

Forever moving
Skiing, running, spazzing out
Please, sit on the couch
- Kateri T.

The nail
I hit
bent
to look
at the sun.
- Fritz W.

Uncle Pete longs for
Cooperation and tools.
Mates will come along.
- Tom B.

East side or West side,
Forty-eight is the best side.
Happy birthday Pete.
- Tom B.

River and stillness,
Patience and some forgiveness.
Life’s too short to rush.
- Tom B.

The bear lumbering,
A journeyman to be sure,
Climbs up the ladder.
- Tom B.

Finding the windage
The hunter’s eye sights his prey.
Boom goes his rifle.
- Tom B.

A free verse cowgirl
Artfully rides a painted pony.
The cowboy watches..
- Tom B.

A Lionel train
Crosses the raging river
New lambs bleat nearby
- Rita D.

Red ponies clatter
Over the crashed ice meadow
Gray dogwood awakes
- Rita D.

Adventures await
Pete ain’t behind or in front
But standing astride
- David M.

The stout river bends
Around waving aspen trees
To a land unseen
- David M.

The way isn’t clear
We may be fine, we may not
Let’s fry some sausage
- David M.

Sauna transported
Undersized trailer bearings
Pete rides on karma
- Mark G.

We miss Pete today,
She muses in the kitchen.
The floors need sweeping
- Mark G.

Character actor
Riffing on the play of life
Pete follows no script
- Mark G.

Heeeey. Check it oooouuuut, man
Rhythmic storytelling bard
Distinct dialect
- Mark G.

Leftovers on plate
A disturbance in the force
Jedi spoon triumphs
- Mark G.

From deep in pockets
Master of commodities
Provides sustenance
- Mark G.

7/11
Flaming tennis ball on fire
Brothers 4 eva
- Peter D.

Dude, Dude, Dude, Dude, Duuuuude
Reverberates off mountains,
Ripples still water
- Nickolas J.

Master of Commodities
Beef jerky dipped in Gruyere?
Wilderness gourmet!
- Nickolas J.

Smooth and metal hull
Racing her rental canoe
Taking on water
- Terry Y.

Water laps the boat
Darkest night and brightest stars
Holy Cross the flow
- Terry Y.

First God is within
Second is your family
Buddha says its so
- Tony Y.

Wrangling three rascals
You are best Caballero
Lucky for Sunshine
- Tony Y.

Up on the mountain
Battling through the forest
Mushroom is laughing
-Tony Y.

In Franconia
The horses can run freely
To return for food
- Tony Y.

Oh! Joy and delight!
This glorious earth behold!
Go! Romp and wander!
- Abby F.

What is this mushroom?
What can be built from this snow?
Where goes the river?
- Abby F.

Let loose what binds you
Follow the scent that calls you
Into your wild heart
- Abby F.

Like a smoking gun
The fella with no limits
A West in orbit
- Nick S.

A lone running man
I wonder who it might be
Oh, Look! It’s Pete West!
- Marilyn T.

Long legs and fast feet
Are good qualities to have
If you’re a runner
- Marilyn T.

Pete runs with the wolves
But not with those bad outlaws.
Cowboys don’t do that
- Marilyn T.

He’s a lovely man
And he’s quiet by nature.
Who else but Pete West
- Marilyn T.

Pete is the father
Of three energetic boys
How does he do it?
- Marilyn T.

And then there’s Lisa
A beauty in her own right
Pete’s a lucky man
- Marilyn T.

Let’s watch Cowboy Pete
Blow out the candles today
On his birthday cake
- Marilyn T.

Peter’s Boys are great
Cody, Dylan, Jesse too
Lisa Sunshine best! ⚓️
- Tim T.

Sun sets in the West
Sunshines fills his life with love
Happy Birthday Dude
- Matt P.

Dude! Shits Fucked Up, Dude!
Oh man dude. Shit is fucked up.
Dude. Ha! Oh man dude.
- Aaron R.

Speak in obscure tones
All with perfect clarity
Pete, droppin’ knowledge
- Aaron R.

Chew chew chew chew chew
Masticatory prowess
His unbridled strength
- Aaron R.

A river man runs
Tied to his trusty sled dog
A winter cowboy
- Dan & Annie W.

Pride and fire inside
Control your ducks! He bursts forth
Rides away in peace
- Dan & Annie W.

Upon the dance floor
Forever a lone ranger
Enveloped in love
- Dan & Annie W.

Trail dust gets EVERYWHERE
You’ll never catch me, wearing chaps
Pete looks after the boys
- Ben L.

What's up Du-u-ude?
A smile takes up his whole face
His smile welcomes my whole soul
- Dina K.

Spandex or Cargo shorts
Drilling lulled by sweet waters
Connecting pieces
- Josie S.

No food is wasted
Life is a smorgasbord Dude
No worries I’ll finish that
- Andy H.

Pete is my new friend
I want to spend time with him
Everyone does!
- Sarah R.

cool moon night “owooooooooo”
release control, raw transformed
purified brings calm
- Sarah R.

The Haiku Cowboy
Floats his canoe down the creek
Searching for his horse
- Marty R.

Mountain and River
Windswept and Floating Downstream
Bare Naked Cowboy
- Marty R.

Courageously seeks
and travels great distances for
His horse called Truth
- Marty R.

Beloved Peter
West, North, South, East. Encompass
Birthday Bliss My Friend
- Marty R.

Late shift at bonfire
He slings a bottle of smoke
No one is leaving
- Doug K.

I’m sure it will work
Never seen it done this way before
Pete is here. ‘sall good.
- Doug K.

Cute boy with long hair
Come share this annie with me
Take my breath away
- Lisa W.

Do you like bagels?
I have cream cheese in my bag.
Wanna get married?
- Lisa W.

Dog shit in my eye
Sixteen more mink butts to go
Life of a musher
- Lisa W.

“You just landed here”
A new papa holds his son
Warming by the fire
- Lisa W.

Make that green light, please!
Dylan is on his way now
We are so lucky
- Lisa W.

No heat? Make a fire.
Cowboy up for number three
Now we are complete
- Lisa W.

Cody, Dylan, Jess
How much more cowboy can you get?
We made our West wild
- Lisa W.

Paddle to the Sea
With me, again and again
We are meant to be
- Lisa W.

This boy loves music
Country, reggae, techno, beats
No one moves like Pete
-  Lisa W.

Minnesota bred
Rugged outside soft inside
As was said, Go West
- Christopher T.

Days of youth grown wild
Adventure, wisdom ripen
Riding Led Zeppelin
- Jason S. 

We called him Pete of the woods
A forest creature
Returned from Widjiwagen
- Ellen M.
Alt Line: We called him Fok of the woods!

The Snow Melts
The River Rises
Paddle Time Again.
- Curtis W.

The Moon Rises
Over the Sauna House
Where Spirits Sweat & Dream
- Curtis W.

House, Home, Building
Hammer, Nails, The Crew
The Tree: Noble Sovereign of All Cities
- Curtis W.

Kick, Glide, Kick, Glide.
Simple Good Advice
For Every Journey Forward
- Curtis W.

Quick Feet, Snow Fast
Tree Skiing, Dodge Now!
Just Like Life but Slower
- Curtis W.

Night Time, Children Asleep
In the Profound Silence
Parents Hear Them Breathing.
- Curtis W.

Energy Vampires
Roam the Countryside
Stay Inside! Your Own Mind.
- Curtis W.

Planets Spin, Earth Rotates
Fat Tires Turn
Powered by Cosmic Bikers
- Curtis W.

Family Man Makes Breakfast
For His Lover
And the Children Feast on Bacon
- Curtis W.

Hammer in Hand
The Arm Lengthens
Driving Home the Point
- Curtis W.

The Mind is a Room Where Every Day
The Furniture Needs to be
Re-arranged.
- Curtis W.

Haiku Cowboy
Guides the Spirit Animals
To the Free Range
- Curtis W.

The Other Shore
Only Reached by Those
That Dare to Paddle
- Curtis W.

In the Tent Under the Stars
The Divine Sleeps
Under the Canvas
- Curtis W.

You took us skiing
Mixing kool-aid with the snow
Sweet, bright, snowy love
- Clare O.

No adventure's too great
No sky is too limited
Graceful in kindness
- Samuel N.

On snow, sand, water, soil
A language goes unspoken
Clearly understood
- Samuel N.

Trees are acquainted
Rivers, lakes, seas are connected
Knowledge in the wind
- Samuel N.

The soul of a wolf
Burning blue hot like lightning
Transcending all time
- Samuel N.

All seasons one love
Plant a seed in his movement
This will be all good
- Mark H.

The Diplomat
Record of Peter:
More harmonious seasons
Than Derek Jeter
- Benjamin M.

The Machine
In his element
Dance moves so smooth -
Freakdown pro appears!
- Benjamin M.

Clean Machine
Super tidy man
Stop entropy - yes he can!
Yelling: “No Splatters!”
- Benjamin M.

Deer Opener
Bar at night, after . . .
Dressing deer on dry leaves
Dried blood worn as chaps
- Benjamin M.

Lunch Meeting
“Okay! How ‘bout this!?
Apple, pizza slices, cake!
Let’s share these! Kablooj!”
- Benjamin M.

Adult In The Room
“College Boy!” drunk blurts
“More House!” wealthy ego yells
Placid. Lake. Peter.
- Benjamin M.

Cross Country Cousin
Man tethers to dog
Across snow, below bright sun
Movement forever
- Benjamin M.

Walk On
Kitchen swept. Stove clean!
Garage lumber collated!
Let’s hit the trail, Cuz!
- Benjamin M.

Let's go for a ski
Dude! Pete packed a sausage snack
Laughter, one love, BOOOOSCH!
- Molly & Greg L.

Energy is high
Playtime with sun and water
Epic adventure
- Molly & Greg L.

Splitting wood by headlight
Backcountry skiing day and night
Running dogs such delight
- Patrick C.

Ex-Widji counselors rule
Planner of a trip out West
Safe. Fun. Enriching.
- Leigh C.

3 Cheers for Pete West
He is one handsome fella
With a heart of gold
- Kane L.

Let’s sleep under the stars
The cold might tickle your nose
After the fire fades
- Kane L.

It can get lonely
Riding into the sunset.
Pack your teddy bears.
- Kane L.

Cowboys wear big hats
Wish I had big hats like them
Along with some boots
- Kane L.

Coyotes (kai-oats) called your name
When they passed by the camp
Just to say hello
- Kane L.

Eat, laugh, talk, think, drink
Burning fire at the river
Relaxing with Pete
- Marsha B.

Late night welcome home
He stayed up to tell me
“Please do the dishes”
- Cody W.

Brisk walk through old woods
Sun above us, son below
The dry leaves crunched
- Cody W.

Old cheetah chases
The young and clumsy moose
Moose is now gazelle
- Cody W.

You can drive the truck
I’ll sleep and work behind you
Semi truck rush by
- Cody W.

A monthly test of
Strength on the tan carpet
So far it is 4-81
(My serve)
- Cody W.