Pioneer's Angels

This poem is dedicated to the boys in Pioneer Cottage at the Nevada Youth Training Center. As a note, Mountaineer Cottage is where a boys at Pioneer Cottage, who have lost their tempers, are taken to cool down and regain their composure. This usually can take from a few minutes to a few hours. The poem is a bit melodramatic. But with kindness and caring - for the boys - it is written.

Pioneer's Angels

They are as peaceful as angels

When upon their bunks they sleep.

But I do believe in their lockers

Some pitchforks they must keep.

For in the brightness of the morning light,

The mood begins to change.

Slowly, the serenity begins to unravel

And it all begins to turn - just a bit more strange.

Groggy, perhaps a bit grumpy, at first -

Then the first rumblings begin to appear.

When a few harsh words are thrown -

You begin to sense a fight is near.

Hopefully you catch it

before it gets to blows.

But if not - off to Mountaineer

One or both of them goes.

Then like an earthquake's rattle

It quiets down and they are cool.

At least, hopefully, long enough -

Until they're off to school.

- Dan Turner, 4/6/03

Elko, Nevada

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