A Rumor of Coyotes – web home of author Cheryl Unruh
Morning Walk in the Neighborhood
Morning Walk in the Neighborhood From a half-block away I noticed a young woman sitting on a cement stoop in front of a house converted into apartments. Beside her, two suitcases, and a large black trash bag likely full of belongings. She was...
Midnight in the Pasture
Midnight in the Pasture An albino moon grazes the pasture tonight, foraging its way through little bluestem, through Indian grass, casting clear light upon a small herd of bison sleeping on the range, each beast tucked inside its heavy and matted hide....
Like the Prairie’s Open Hand
I am honored to have a review of Walking on Water from the fabulous and well-published Tyler Sheldon. His review was published in The Tin Lunchbox Review, a literary journal founded by Shawna Caro. Emporia, Kansas writer Cheryl Unruh is known throughout the Midwest...
The Whims of Electricity
(note the electrical outlet to my right) THE WHIMS OF ELECTRICITY With its cream-colored face, the electrical outlet frowned. Secured in the wall next to the family dinner table, six inches from my 3-year-old ear, I kept an eye on that outlet at every meal. Someone,...
Unruh Siblings Give Reading
Leon and I had a blast reading together for the first time. I read poems from my new book: Walking on Water. Leon read from his thriller, Dog of the Afterworld. He is working on a sequel. Here's a link to the story in the Emporia Gazette: Siblings Share Writing at...
Walking on Water
My new poetry book is now available! In Emporia, you can find it at Ellen Plumb's City Books, 1101 Commercial. In Lawrence, it's at Raven Bookstore, 6 E. 7th, and Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts. In Wichita, find it at Eighth Day Books, 2838 E. Douglas, and Watermark...
Poetry Book Launch
The book launch for my new poetry book, Walking on Water, will be Tuesday, April 18, 6:30 - 8:30 p..m. at Dave Leiker's Prairiedust Studio & Gallery, 330 Commercial, Emporia, Kansas. I'll do two short readings at 7 and 7:45 and will give away a copy of the book...
Visiting Norma
VISITING NORMA At Mt. Carmel, an assisted living facility, I visited my Aunt Norma today. My heart was heavy and sad - I didn't know when I’d be back - I live two states away. We sat outdoors in the warm May air. As her Chihuahua sniffed around in the grassy...
Dave’s New Studio & Gallery
Dave recently moved his photography studio to a new location - a location with room for a gallery. How exciting is that? He's now at 330 Commercial. And the gallery will be open during First Friday in Emporia this week. January 6, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. This is where...
Ship of Fools
Ship of Fools, oil painting by Barbara Waterman-Peters. She's also painted two companion pieces. “SHIP OF FOOLS” Reflection on an oil painting by Barbara Waterman-Peters In Barbara’s painting, Ship of Fools, a crow sits on the mast, and two others wing...
The landscape is one hill folding into another, bodies of hills lying together. There are few trees for shade. We make our own shadows here, unless a cloud runs interference with the sun.
As a hawk glides overhead, we feel the rhythms of land and sky. And somewhere out here, we step into that space between questions and answers, a place where we are satisfied with the unknown.
After darkness comes, the wind settles down, and the Milky Way flings itself across the sky. A rumor of coyotes hangs in the night air.
When the world closes up shop, when the sky turns from blue to black for the very last time, when the last poem is written and read, this is where I want to be – out in my beloved Flint Hills.
– excerpt from “At Home in the Flint Hills,” Waiting on the Sky by Cheryl Unruh ©2013