The poems in Produce Wagon explore the vast and varied circumstances of the human experience. Roy Scheele delves into his love for his wife in "Remembrances," the opening poem from his first chapbook, and "Driving after Dark"; his fascination with the natural world in poems such as "How the Fox Got Away" and "Late Autumn Woods"; his appreciation of his family in "A Kitchen Memory" and "The Long Rise"; and his fondness for stories in "The Carny Circuit" and "In the Clear." In these and the other poems in the collection, Scheele uses a variety of traditional verse forms as well as free verse and syllabics, carefully fitting the form of each poem to his subject matter. Though most of the poems are set in Nebraska and neighboring states, there is a universality to the subjects Scheele addresses. In these poems anywhere is everywhere.

The poems in Produce Wagon explore the vast and varied circumstances of the human experience. Roy Scheele delves into his love for his wife in “Remembrances,” the opening poem from his first chapbook, and “Driving after Dark”; his fascination with the natural world in poems such as “How the Fox Got Away” and “Late Autumn Woods”; his appreciation of his family in “A Kitchen Memory” and “The Long Rise”; and his fondness for stories in “The Carny Circuit” and “In the Clear.” In these and the other poems in the collection, Scheele uses a variety of traditional verse forms as well as free verse and syllabics, carefully fitting the form of each poem to his subject matter. Though most of the poems are set in Nebraska and neighboring states, there is a universality to the subjects Scheele addresses. In these poems anywhere is everywhere.

Perfumed breezes from the whispering tamaracks hide secrets and carry only unanswered questions throughout the wide valley that was once filled with Cryus Wynter’s greatest hopes, dreams, and ambitions but now only with questions. How could such a skilled breeder, known to be prudent and cautious around the breed he loved, have been gored by his own prize bull? And what of the once prominent family heritage now apparently shaken and in such discord that the favored son has left? It is in the midst of this perplexity that Lydee finds herself in an arranged marriage to the younger son and fearfully struggles to deal with the dismay of dark family secrets until finally she is driven to the far plains over Idaho’s wild Snake River for answers—and there’s a final vindication even for the noble bulls!