Author Archives: bigskybuckeye

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About bigskybuckeye

Born in the Big Sky Country of Montana and now living in the Buckeye State of Ohio, Richard is the creative mind behind Big Sky Buckeye. Retired after 40 years of teaching, I enjoy writing, photography, traveling, and following a healthy lifestyle.

Graceful Precision

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agility balance beautiful girl dancer

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Music accompanies daring tumbling moves

Elegance and personality match the groove

 

Connecting a back layout with a back handspring

The floor exercise generates applause that rings

 

A most challenging event brings a fearless test

Strength, agility, and balance need to be best

 

Moving from the lower to the upper bar with such ease

The uneven bars finish with a dismount sure to please

 

A front handspring explodes from the springboard

Elongated body soars high to earn a worthy score

 

Twisting with a half or a full displays superb skill

The vault produces athleticism to deliver a thrill

 

Forward and backward walkovers with such poise

A 360 degrees pivot creates a hush with little noise

 

Connecting all the rhythmic moves with no doubts

The balance beam ends with a precise dismount

 

A spectacular gymnastics meet delivers the very bold

The crowd watches in amazement, nothing seems old

 

Competing for a high score and a gold medal, too

Such graceful precision will see this girl through

 

 

 

Haiku Series #7

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Where?

Hope County is near

Cannot be found on a map

Resides in our hearts

 

Breakfast

An egg is a hit

Fame can be over-easy

Such a funny yoke!

 

Hubby’s Job

Wife shopping at mall

Hubby carries heavy bags

Yes, he is my mule!

 

Walking with Trees

Smelling fresh pine scent

Walking in peaceful shadows

Magnificent white pines

 

Schoolchildren’s Prayer

Dear God, please listen

We ask for more snow tonight

Tomorrow—Snow Day!

 If you enjoy Haiku’s, check out some of these past Haiku postings:  Series #5 and Series #6.

Engineering Marvels

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brooklyn bridge new york

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Designed to carry a road or cross a ravine or river

Bridges are constructed to carry a load to deliver

 

Bridge designs range from very simple to complex

Some look very basic and daunting from the rest

 

More primitive bridges make one’s legs tremble and shake

Crossing them seems like a journey, certainly not to make

 

Scaling Everest, the world’s tallest and best known peak

Climbers use a crevasse bridge for the thrills they seek

 

Relishing a drive along many of America’s roads, without despair

Crossing a covered bridge that is unique and kept in good repair

 

More complex types are designed with beauty it seems

Trestle, arch, suspension, girder, drawbridge, and beam

 

Famous bridges are found nearly everywhere

Nearly all are built with a great amount of care

 

Sadly, a small number of bridges weaken and collapse

Due to flooding, earthquakes, or an engineering lapse

 

Pittsburgh proclaims to be the “City of Bridges” at last count

But, New York City possesses more bridges, without a doubt

 

Some bridges are named after people of notable fame

Benjamin Franklin and Andy Warhol, a couple to name

 

Other bridges are found in legends, films, and books

Golden Gate, Mackinac, and Brooklyn—take a look!

 

European designers have been busy in many places

Hamburg and Amsterdam’s bridges fill their spaces

 

Bridges comprise some of man’s grandest monuments of all

Designing impressive engineering marvels that shouldn’t fall

 

As some plan to demolish an old, downtrodden bridge

Expect others to stand and cry out, “Save Our Bridge”

2018 August Montana Trip 211.JPG

The Great River Bridge spans the Mississippi River at the Iowa-Illinois border.

2018 August Montana Trip 208.JPG

Entering Burlington, Iowa, a closer view of the Great River Bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journey to America

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statue of liberty new york

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Images of immigrants arriving at America’s shores

Families hope the United States offers much more

 

Huddled and crowded together on ships bound for another  land

Dreaming of moving forward and receiving an outstretched hand

 

Most Americans trace immigrants back to their family roots

Their ancestors arrived ready to energize lives with a boost

 

 

 

Singer Neil Sedaka proclaims the immigrants’ anxious arrival

“The Immigrant” sings of America waiting, without any denial

 

Coming to America is immortalized as Neil Diamond sings

“America” tells a fascinating story that only his lyrics bring

 

Both Sedaka and Diamond write beautiful and appropriate text

America can do better than people shouting, “You are not next”

 

 

 

Imagine the excitement felt upon seeing Lady Liberty

She has welcomed people to America for an eternity

 

Her torch offers a brilliant beacon of new hope and light

America extends a welcoming hand, ending their plight

 

This openhearted Lady, gifted from France, stands solemn

She invites the less fortunate to disembark in long columns

 

 

 

Emma Lazarus, an offspring of immigrants, expresses it best

Her poetic words in “The New Colossus” surely pass the test

 

Her inspiring words paint an ironic and emotional image for all

To see how a mighty Lady and America will forever stand tall

 

 

 

America’s melting pot overflows from a gentle and peaceful place

Tales from immigrants deserve to be heard without undue haste

 

Immigration has recently become a passionate, national debate

America’s history shows patience in opening its welcome gate

 

The lyrics of “The Immigrant” can be found at Neil Sedaka.

The lyrics of “America” can be found at Neil Diamond.

The verses of “The New Colossus” can be found at Emma Lazarus.

Wild Violet

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bloom blooming blossom blur

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She returns annually to announce the arrival of spring

Heart-shaped flowers will bring vivid beauty that sings

 

She loves the cool and damp spring air

Shaded from the sunlight brings no cares

 

She possesses a cute and dainty look

Green fields invite a walk along a brook

 

She adores the color purple, dark is best

Sadly, others see her beauty as a pest

 

She loves to pause in gardens for relaxation

Butterflies seek her as a beautiful attraction

 

She experienced vigorous growth in her younger days

Ancient Greeks consider her a symbol of love that stays

 

She meanders now as a traveler seeking only fun

Looking out at a calm creek called Wild Violet Run

 

There really is a small stream called Wild Violet Run near Pickerington, Ohio in Violet Township, which is located in northwestern Fairfield County.

Final Lap

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red racing car on race track during daytime

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Destined to command the pack around the track

The shiny and high-speed race car never slacks

Fine-tuned to outrun and outmuscle every foe

This car will sprint to the finish, never too slow

Racing for a championship with 200 grueling laps

The experienced driver is favored to win in a snap

Waiting all week for race day to finally arrive

The rest of the field wonders how to survive

Handled with precision, the favorite speeds onward

The driver’s bubbling confidence shines forward

Taking the lead from the start of the 500 mile sprint

The cool, poised driver stays ahead as others flinch

Hearing the engine competing at its maximum speed

Four, three, two laps and one more to finish the deed

Running razor-close to the edge of the wall

The driver knows the competition shall fall

Entering the final corner of today’s dominating ride

The car fuels excitement with nothing ever to hide

Anticipating the checkered flag waiting at the finish line

The driver applies a final burst of speed for the last time

 

Victory ahead . . .

 

CRASH!!!

 

Crushed into the outer wall takes away smiles

This car won’t be racing for quite a long while

Saddened by a single error and a disastrous mistake

The driver grimaces at his unfortunate luck and fate

 

Where is Hope?

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adult background beach blue

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The location of Hope County can’t be found on any maps

Perhaps hope resides in our caring hearts ready to tap

 

Last year’s drought

Brings misery and dried-up hope

Optimistic farmers seed spring crops with unwavering hope

 

A nearby processing plant

Will close soon with vanishing hope

Hurting families look to God for new hope

 

A nation’s inner fiber

Torn and ripped apart with faltering hope

Martin Luther King proclaims a message of rebuilding hope

 

A man sits despaired and forlorn

Being laid off with a future that offers spiritless hope

Receiving a new job brings praise to a God of immense hope

 

A crime-ridden neighborhood

Breathes each day with an absence of hope

Community spirit and love return with true hope

 

A charred Apollo spacecraft

Dashes an American moon journey with little hope

Neil Armstrong walks on the moon with restored hope

 

A scorned and forgotten child

Feels left out at school with fading hope

A passionate teacher smiles and brings refreshing hope

 

A middle-aged woman

Receives news that her body is filled with cancer and no hope

Prayers intercede filled with cancer-free and grace-filled hope

 

A sin-filled world

Awaits a Savior with never-ending hope

God sends His Son to deliver eternally-filled hope

 

Our world contains many places

Where hearts are filled with everlasting spirit and hope

Let’s never turn-off for a second our amazing hope

 

The Bible speaks a great deal about hope.  Search for numerous examples such as from Romans 15:13:  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Blogger’s Notebook

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sephia photography of desk lamp lightened the gray typewriter on wooden table

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As my writing and blogging progresses into the middle of its fifth month, I am pausing to reflect on my progress.  I am a writer first, a blogger second.  Without my writing, my blog would be an empty page.  I have enjoyed my writing journey since starting in October, and it has been a very worthwhile experience.

  • I read other blogs as well, and many provide inspiration and motivation to continue posting my writing to this blog.  It is exciting to share ideas and thoughts—especially with other writers.
  • I am my own creator as I write.  My boundaries are set by the helping hand of what lies deep inside of my soul, and God brings many topics to my attention.  It is amazing to see what ideas are harvested into my writing–especially my poetry.
  • It is rewarding to receive input on my writing.  Perhaps this is one of the most positive roles of my blog.  A follow, like, or a comment reminds me that others are feeling connected in some way with what I write.  But, if a post receives little feedback, I still feel at peace because I remind myself that I first write for me.
  • It is important for me to reply in some way to comments sent to me.  If someone takes the time to write me a short message, I need to be respectful and write back in due time.
  • I have enjoyed reading devotionals from other Christians.  We share a common bond formed around the Word found in scripture.  One of my goals for 2019 is to increase my faith walk with Christ, and many writers have expanded my understanding and appreciation of God’s message.
  • I am not a social media junkie.  I do not have an account linked to Facebook, Instagram, or any others.  For some, this is a comfortable place for them to be.  I just feel that my writing, maintaining my blog, and dealing with the rest of my life is truly enough for me.