Anne Gagel has a BFA in Painting and Post Baccalaureate in Creative Writing from the Kansas City Art Institute.  She is currently living and working in both Kansas City, Missouri, and Alma, Kansas, a town located in the Flint Hills.  Much of her work is inspired by the serenity she finds through many hours spent out in the vast open landscape.  She is one of many people in Kansas, USA, trying to protect the beauty and ecosystem of the Flint Hills from becoming blemished with wind turbines.  For more information about the Flint Hills, contact www.protecttheflinthills.org.  Anne says "Thank you for viewing my work and writing, and please help protect the beauty our world has to offer."

Drawing with Dirt An ocean with out water.  That creates waves folding back and forth onto itself. That creates a stillness through noise. The rocks. The rocks. To collect and move all the rocks heaving them out from under this place ñ slabs or part of the foundation of earth.

	(a continental parting)
The itching and scratching of one leaf or branch over the next to create a melody of sorts.		I shall watch this spot I shall wash this spot of earth from my memory slowly though paint.
	ECHO
And when thoughts divide Only a line will separate From where you are To what you want to re-collect		I shall blacken the surface with layers of thought that creep out, seep out and ooze of vibrant purple flowers spotted with blood
	(scattered) over the land. Poems by Anne Gagel Back