The Mad Puppeteer

Freedom is an Open Road

For Becca and Alex Foss

 

 

As I sat upon a mountainside, with all the world before me

I observed the sun, high in the sky, running its daily course

And I thought to myself, Isn’t this the way things are supposed to be?

And the answer came easily, without any doubt, without remorse

 

All the money in the world couldn’t buy a bluer sky than this

Nothing could warm my heart more than the sweet Wyoming sun

No worldly possessions could ever bring more happiness

Than the satisfaction I feel here when every day is done

 

So if I ever leave this country

I’m sure its blue skies and western wind will always call me home

And I will stay on this road and follow wherever it goes

Some people may think that all I ever do is roam

But they don’t know what I know—that freedom is an open road

 

Just the other night, I heard the wolves, singing their song to the moon

And I thought I heard them calling my name, with their strange melodies

And I hope I can hear their song again soon

Because to me, that song is as majestic as a symphony

 

When I smell these pines it’s a sweet release, from worry, care, and stress

The rushing waters comfort me, and let me know I’m safe and sound

Without any help from man, the way nature planned it is the best

With bears and bison, and the trees and grass, keeping me company all around

 

So if I ever leave this country

I’m sure its blue skies and western wind will always call me home

And I will stay on this road and follow wherever it goes

Some people may think that all I ever do is roam

But they don’t know what I know—that freedom is an open road

 

 

Cover photo taken on the Bliss Pass trail in Yellowstone National Park


54 responses to “Freedom is an Open Road”

  1. The Stories in Between Avatar
    The Stories in Between

    This is great. You perfectly captured how I feel when I’m able to escape from this horrible concrete world and in to the wilderness.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for the kind words! One of the best feelings in the world is being able to escape to nature.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. Beautifully descriptive! Isn’t nature amazing!? I am getting ready to go out on a bike ride and I live in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I am in a tank top in March!:) it will be 70 today!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you for reading! Have a great ride! I’m in the process of moving to Arizona and am looking forward to the year-round warm weather 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I use to live in Sedona! Where in Arizona?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Cool! It seems like a great place to live! How did you like it? I’ll be in the Phoenix area.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. It was not an easy time for me! I am a liberal artist type and Arizona is just a tad bit too republican for my taste. It takes all types though and a rigorous 2 party system is important. The best to you and hope the move is a good one.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Thank you very much. All the best to you and Callie as well!

        Like

  3. This is an amazing piece of work – exactly what my thoughts are – love the pine tree scent- thank you for bringing it home.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Willy! The smell of pines is one of my favorite scents in the world. It reminds me of happy summers spent in Yellowstone.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. By far my favorite piece from you, the imagery of everything WEST is simply incredible! I can’t wait to read more 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much! It means the world to me that you like it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. LOVE is more like it 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      2. You’re the best!

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Nice podt❤😊

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂

      Like

  6. Beautiful poem! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you very much for the kind words, and for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Jordan Schutt Avatar
    Jordan Schutt

    Great stuff as usual man. Keep it up.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks man! Will do.

      Like

  8. Beautiful man, it makes my heart ache for freedom. Ache to load up the Xterra and head out to experience new people and view amazing sights.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for taking the time to read. I appreciate it. Yeah man, it can be hard to get away, but it’s completely worth it when we do.

      Like

  9. Love this piece. Just a few alterations….pine becomes gum tree and wolf a cockatoo…. and you could be writing from the other side of the world here in Australia. How amazing that you can convey the peace and freedom we all can feel in our happy place even when they are so far apart. Thank you.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words! I have not been to Australia, but I would love to visit. There is something very calming, renewing, and inspiring about nature, even in its great diversity. I’m glad you enjoyed this!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. That is a heartfelt poem. All the money in the world can’t buy a sky bluer than this. That spoke to me. And amen, freedom is an open road, and to some a warm abode.Thank you for writing this, and thank you for visiting my blog 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m very glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I love this piece because it reminds me of all the reasons I miss my home state of Montana 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you! Montana is a great state. I have many fond memories of spending summer vacation there with my family 🙂

      Like

  12. Thoroughly enjoyable. I’m a great fan of the outdoors, wild camping, and just relaxing while walking and climbing the local hills and mountains of my local countryside in Wales. You capture the essence of it extremely well.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Many thanks! I love the outdoors as well, and find it incredibly refreshing to be close to nature. Thank you for reading, and for your kind words!

      Like

  13. A beautiful reflection on being close to nature. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you! Nature is very inspirational to me. I’m glad you enjoyed this poem 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Such a beautiful piece. You enthralled my imagination with the imagery and took me on a tranquil adventure. Great work!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you for your kind words, and for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome!

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Happy to read this post today, it is in nature where I find have found my soul and appreciate this poem so much for that. — Stephen

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m happy you enjoyed this, Stephen. Nature has a way of giving us a perspective that is hard to find anywhere else. Thanks for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. There is not enough nature in the world, today, IMO. We shed it at our peril, really. We tame it at our great risk.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I couldn’t agree more.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. […] Freedom is an Open Road […]

    Liked by 2 people

  17. I like poems and I like nature and I like freedom. I’ll follow you because you managed to get all three into one post like no-one else ever could!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much Andreas! I appreciate you taking the time to read my poem.

      Like

  18. The first few lines are my favorite 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for the feedback, Sarah! I’m glad you enjoyed those lines. The feeling of being on a mountain is one of the best feelings in the world to me 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, the mountain view definitely evokes feelings ☺️

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Love this! especially the line ‘All the money in the world couldnt buy a bluer sky than this’…so true.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Sarah! Many of the best things in life are not bought with money 🙂

      Like

  20. Brandon Neifert Avatar
    Brandon Neifert

    Very good poem. Repetition is a lost art. Have you studied the poets like Wordsworth or Keats? I like your craft—simple poems are good poems—but with myself, I find diversifying my types of poems helps bring inspiration. I say Wordsworth because I think you could try something similar to his, inspired by your hikes in the National Parks.

    You might actually get offended by Wordsworth’s difficulty, but I find if you read his poems over and over again, pay attention to every line and punctuation, you’ll figure out what I mean. I would love to see your nature experience translated to those kinds of poems. Though, you’ll have to read one of Wordsworth’s poems and get it to know exactly what I’m talking about. I find you have that capability, but metaphor is one of the most beautiful parts of reading poetry— and with your diverse travelling, you should have no problem finding inspiration where Wordsworth couldn’t.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Brandon, thank you very much for reading, and for your comment. I have definitely been influenced by some of the poets, but I wouldn’t say that I have studied them–at least not to the extent that you obviously have. You have inspired me, however, to look more closely at them. Thank you again for your feedback and recommendations.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Brandon Neifert Avatar
        Brandon Neifert

        Thank you. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  21. jonicaggiano Avatar
    jonicaggiano

    Absolutely graphic, one is by your side in the beauty and escape from the city to the country and the sounds of the wildness. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much for coming along on the adventure 🙂 An escape from the city is an essential thing from time to time!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. You really paint a beautiful picture with your words. Very nice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Brandon. I appreciate that very much!

      Liked by 1 person

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