THE CONSERVATIVE POET

[Michael Prahm]

It is assumed liberals own art.  I disagree with the highest protest possible.  Who is more artistic?  The painter of the gentle country scene with the rustic farm buildings, or the artisan who's toil and labor provided the beauty expressed in the painting? Who was the better artist?  Van Gogh, or the simple gardener?  We loved the first shots of the earth from space, and that ladies and gentlemen is the triumph of conservative poetry and art.

The conservative poet might just as easily fix a tractor as inspire the heart.  They are the true poets of the people.  Their poetry is the life of reality, not fiction, nor fantasy, hyperbole, or what if.  Their beat is the rhythm of industry, of progress, of real beats measured in real time.

The conservative poet before concern for the endangered species worked with state and federal governments to set aside vast tracts of land for wildlife with a self-imposed tax at their bequest, called the duck stamp.  Duck hunters since the 1930's have puirchased and given to state and federal governments wet lands that if put together would equal the size of Mass.  They made the fire breaks of the forest and trails to aid in fighting forest fires.  They put the wind breaks on the prairies and with the greatest foresight provided innumerable acres of lakes.  They have been the true watchmen of not only the land, but of wildlife.  The wild turkey, was once almost extinct, now they are so plentiful, they threaten other species of wildlife, and the effort was put forth by a small minority with their own money.  When I was 14 you could not shoot a Canadian Honker.  Now they are a menace.  A beautifu menace.  There are more snow geese on the planet now than when Columbus discovered America.  They have not only a fall seasopn, but a spring season, and the limit is 20, because of over-population.  American forestry plants more trees than are harvested each year.

The poetry of the conservative might be a blueprint for a home, a theorum for better food production, or a better way to reach natural resources.  Or it just might be Francis Scott Key who during the bombardment was inspired to write; "OH SAY CAN YOU SEE."  The commander of the fort requested the largest flag that could be found.  It had to made, and it had the desired effect.  The bombardment to that point in history was  the greatest that had ever been made.  Work is love made visible, and this art, this poetry should be a commuinication of the life we lead, not only in the of what is said, but content.  Words communicate ideas, art highlights it with emotion, and if your ethics are in line, it will be a health conversation.

No matter the vocation of the conservative poet, he or she understands the need for a vibrant economic outcome.  He or she understands that economy is the engine of a civil society, and without a robust economy, every intent to do well is but a fairy tale.

The idea of a conservative poet is not a political aspiration, nor leaning, but an ideal of a person towards himself, and the community in which he or she lives.  It reached its height in the days of the pioneers, when individualism was bound to the sense of neighbor.  In trials the neighbors worked together, in peace the growth of the individual flourished.

[Michael Prahm]

Emil

One more point.  I have about 10,000 words of essays and poetry, of which this is the title piece, and in the future will? be a book.

[Michael Prahm]

Emil

Fire at will, use what you will.  much of it is uncollected in-residence thoughts, strained thru what perspective I see.

Work is love made visible, is from one of the great teachings, by Beth Lowder, a great woman.   I miss her dearly, but oh, how she could teach those wonderful first principles.

 

Thank you,

Your brother,

Mike