The Horse Lawyer and Other Poems chronicles the struggles and triumphs of three generations of an Iowa farm family over a 125-year period. The “story” begins with a soldier coming home from the Civil War and setting foot for the first time on his newly-purchased farm and ends when the land next changes hands in the early 1990s. The book is the story of the family, their friends, and their neighbors as they try to adapt to the changing world around them. Their lives and personal aspirations are shaped by two world wars, a harsh climate, the dust bowl, and the Great Depression. They seek to meet this adversity and thrive through love, self-reliance, work, faith, and a strong sense of community.
A Couple of Reviews
My thoughts: These are delightful and accessible vignettes. What a compelling way to preserve and share the soul of three generations of farm families, through the author’s fatherline in free verse. Not only that, but they lived on the same nook of Iowa soil over a span of 125 years. I’m encouraged to try something similar with my own motherline.
The Horse Lawyer and Other Poems is divided into the three generations and accompanied by winsome photos. I especially enjoyed the poems called “His Rocker,” “Fraternity of the Soil,” and the two about aging–“Two Shall Be As One” and “It’s Getting Gray.”
Greg Seeley
Greg Seeley was raised on a farm north of Afton, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a major in history and received his Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa. Greg is a retired certified public accountant and lives in Overland Park, Kansas with his wife Carolyn, a retired math teacher.
Greg Seeley also wrote Tractor Bones and Rusted Trucks: Tales and Recollections of a Heartland Baby Boomer, which is a collection of poetry and short stories. He also written two Civil War stories.
Ah, yes. More history in Iowa than I ever imagind!
Yup!
That’s what I’ve been thinking, too, GP! I’m so greatful that Joy has taught me that Iowa isn’t just a “flyover state.”
We’re not Idaho or Ohio either! Thanks, Liz!
Exactly!
An interesting title!
It certainly encourages me to do a better job with titles!
I love the words ‘heritage’ and ‘hardworking times’ from Amaria’s Amazon review. I think you offer the same, Joy. Up close and personal glimpses of lives that might be otherwise forgotten. Thank you for the introduction to Greg Seeley’s book. 🥰
Thank you, Vicki!
🥰
The title alone is enough to get me to want the book. And, yes I think you should do something like this.
Mine is seven generations, five of them in Iowa, my motherline. Got it mapped out and started! Thanks for the nudge, Andrew!
A similar project gets my vote, too, Andrew!
Maybe a nudge for Andrew as well!
It’s great that there is such fine writing about the lives of people from Iowa.
Surprising, huh!
With all the media emphasis on big cities, it may seem surprising, but the lives of people not in the big cities are just as important as those who are.
Small places are great to grow up in! Thanks, Tim!
Sounds like a great collection!
Thank you, Priscilla. I keep going back to it.