Thank You, Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman. Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Cowboy Poem Category, 2015 Summer Fun Write Stuff Contest

By Barb Owings 

It started when I had some time to kill
At the library looking for a book that might give me a thrill
When I happened upon mysteries written about the West
So I checked out a few to give them a test

The stories were short and had interesting plots
And it turned out I really liked them a lot
They contained adventures about places unknown
Like vast desert mesas, often dry as a bone

His plots, his characters told the tales
Of mystic creatures and fearless males
Readers have sat on the edge of their seats
While reading of his heroes and all of their feats

Protagonist, Lt.Joe Leaphorn, an honorable man
And his young sidekick, Sgt. Jim Chee,a reluctant fan
Together they handled all kinds of cases
Which took them to Hopi, Supai and Apache places

Joe Leaphorn, a resourceful man

Desert Foothills Library Entrance

Desert Foothills Library

Always ready with a well thought-out plan
Wise in the ways of the Navajo life
Overcoming danger and all kinds of strife

Young Jim Chee, a Traditional Navajo at heart
A man of faith, seeking Harmony each day to start
With a pinch of pollen would bless each day
From his rust east-facing trailer, his way to pray

While learning about the desert’s wide open spaces
Joe Leaphorn gave us insight to some far off places
Jim Chee, being younger had some conflicts in life
Like trying to find a woman who’d be a good wife

They introduced us to Skeleton Man,Guardian of the Underworld, a Hopi renowned
Who taught them not to be afraid of death, a lesson quite sound
Kokopelli, The Flute Player, was mentioned a lot
On the book shelves at Desert Foothills Library, seen in various spots

Books by the author are lined in a row
On the library shelves, always seeming to grow
I miss this great author but now have some hope
That daughter, Anne’s writings will throw me some rope.

You know the kind, when you enter the library stack
Will bring great memories of Tony Hillerman back
So when thoughts of preserving something worthwhile I find
Two things – Tony Hillerman,an author so fine
And the Desert Foothills Library to finish this rhyme

 

**This is a combination of a poem about the West and preserving something in the community – both gems!

 

Barb Owings is a resident of Cave Creek, a frequent editorial contributor to The Peak, and a past winner of The Peak’s Write Stuff contest.

Author: Les Conklin

Les Conklin is a resident of north Scottsdale He founded Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Monte de Paz HOA and is the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. He was named to Scottsdale's History Maker Hall of Fame in 2014. Les is a past editor of A Peek at the Peak and the author of Images of America: Pinnacle Peak. He served on the Scottsdale's Pride Commission, McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the boards of several local nonprofits and was a founding organizer of the city's Adopt-A-Road Program.. Les is a volunteer guide at the Musical Instrument Museum.

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