Winona, a Dakota Legend; and Other Poems

This volume opens with a sweeping lyrical tribute to the lakeside world of Minnetonka, where the quiet of the prairie meets the glow of modernity. The poet draws vivid contrasts between the ancient campfires of the Dakota people and the electric lights of a new era, weaving together nature, music, and memory in a single, breath‑filled stanza. Through rich imagery and a rhythmic cadence, the verses capture both the beauty of the landscape and the uneasy tension of cultural change.

Beyond the opening, the collection offers a series of poems that explore love, loss, and the lingering spirit of the Plains. Each piece balances reverence for indigenous legend with a personal, often nostalgic, narrator’s reflections, inviting listeners to feel the rustle of leaves, the call of a distant flute, and the echo of forgotten stories. The language is accessible yet lyrical, making the poems ideal for an intimate listening experience that honors a vanished world while speaking to timeless human emotions.