A Meadowlark and His Kingdom by Cara Brewer

40x16 inches print on wood (with a second wood backing)

The images were captured in a field on the eastern plains of Colorado near Watkins.

I, myself, grew up on the great plains of South Dakota, so I tend to gravitate towards that landscape. I feel very much at peace there with the meadowlarks.

I currently reside in Aurora and very often find myself desperate to get out. So to cope with the anxiety and frustration, all I have to do is take a short drive to the wide open spaces just east of here, take a walk on the railroad tracks, listen to the meadowlarks, pray - and I'm calm again.

peace within by Cara Brewer

years spent running from anger and pain
hiding in lifestyles, living in vain
ignoring the void, then buying to fill it
working to death, that I might kill it
ashamed of my own broken heart
of all my thoughts, of all my parts

until one night I stopped on the road
walked into a field of grasses gold 
I sat down on its railroad tracks
and said go ahead God, take me back
many dark hours soon passed by
but no engine came to take my life

then I heard a morning sound from my youth
of when I believed in fairy tale books
when I was sure that God was with me
when no one dared to tromp or trick me
when Now was everything, no need for Ahead
when my authentic creative spirit was not dead 
these notes burst like rays into my dried heart
then filled its cracks with beautiful art

the meadowlark’s gift awakened my soul
reminded me that I’m not too old 
to find a place where I fit in
where breathing is easy, where quiet exists
where wind and whistles orchestrate
an existence that’s free to resonate
with those who come to dance in the grass
until aside their wickedness is cast
until they feel transformations begin
into the gloriousness of peace within