Derby Day in the Yukon, and Other Poems of the "Northland"

A rugged chorus of verse captures the raw pulse of the Northland, where snow‑clad horizons and the howl of sled dogs frame everyday toil. The poet’s voice blends rough‑hewn humor with wistful reminiscence, painting miners, trappers and their loyal malamutes as both heroic and humbled by an unforgiving landscape. Each poem feels like a campfire tale, vivid enough to let listeners hear the creak of sled runners and the distant echo of a distant gold rush.

The collection moves from the frenzy of a Yukon derby—where sled teams thunder across frozen plains—to quieter moments of loss, fellowship and the stubborn hope that drives pioneers onward. Through gritty imagery and colloquial cadence, the verses convey both the danger and the camaraderie of life on the trail. Listeners will find themselves drawn into a world where laughter and hardship share the same breath, echoing long after the final stanza fades.