When I was a child our family would take a yearly car trip that was always a combination of exploring cities and the country. Those trips would include a lot of nature and human history. Like any typical young boy I especially enjoyed old forts or battlefields. In addition to many forts we had also been to several civil war battlefields, one revolutionary war battlefield, and the famed Little Bighorn battlefield. Then came Antietam. This was in Maryland and cost the U.S. a horrifying 23,000 lives of Union and Confederate soldiers. It was one of the first truly spiritual days of my life. It remains in my memory as if it was yesterday.
We walked the trail at this rather ordinary looking place. There was just one trail and a few signs to explain what occurred at each spot along the way. I thought I heard the painful cries of a thousand good men. That of course was silly. Then they grew louder. The earth seemed to moan with every step we took. We stopped at the sign next to a small stream in the big empty field. We read that as the dead and the dying collapsed into the water, it soon became pink. Then red. Then it ran red. A light wind blew across the fields carrying ancient battle cries. Then just cries. Our walk was over and a young boy was changed forever.
I still to this day love the atmosphere and knowledge that can be found at historic sites, including battlefields. War however did cease to be cool for me on that hot summer’s day in Maryland many years ago. I never looked at war the same again. We (in all nations) need to never forget all of those that have given so much for their country or their cause. The pain and horror are real. In 1863 or 2011. Their sacrifice needs to honored. Then we can hope that someday war will be unnecessary and we can walk the world’s battlefields and give thanks that war is no more.
Earth, Teach Me
Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.
Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.
Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.
Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.
Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.
A Ute Prayer
There is no place on this green earth that I would rather be than high in the mountains among the clouds on a crisp sunny morning. This is the San Juan range of the Colorado Rockies.
Lily close-up with rain 
For any of you who have been fortunate enough to see a Native American dance exhibition, especially with the plains Indians, you can see that parts of many of those interpretive dances came from the dancing grouse of the prairie. Below you see a Greater Prairie Chicken (grouse), and a Sharp-tailed Grouse (top) in their courtship dances. The “Sharpie” with its spread wing style is especially familiar to me, having seen several Indian dance performances.
Still having purpose. While the life has left this craggy old tree, it still stands strong and serves a purpose. At least for the nature photographer it represents a clear and distinct form against the colorful and stormy sunrise. A sign of things that once were.
Earth Images Blog by Wayne Nelson 
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