Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Vanishing Prairie

Posted on June 3, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Vanishing prairie hangs on

Isolated town foregone

Time long ago, grand premiere

History fading each year

Showing up on highway map

Road’s wide spot, taking a nap

Middle of farming country

Seldom find even one tree

Boarded-up wood-frame schoolhouse

Empty, forgotten courthouse

No longer town’s pride and joy

Critters, varmints now employ

Railroad track hides in tall grass

Recalling past trains, first-class

Grain elevator hanging on

Memories live, town’s swan song

Single street light standing guard

Night’s shadows, lasting vanguard

Yesteryear’s grandest of homes

Mystery for Sherlock Holmes

Faded sign for Ruth’s Café

Long absent dinner entrees

Movie theater shuttered

Smelling fresh popcorn, buttered

Few remember town’s past times

Hearing nature’s windy chimes

Past glory days, now long gone

Dim sunset, well past its dawn

During my teaching career, I taught 25 years in the eastern prairie country of Montana. Today, many small farming communities struggle for survival while others such as the one in this poem live on only as memories.

Walking in Light

Posted on June 2, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From 1 John 1:6-7: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Traveling earthly journey

Living alongside our Lord

Following His path with trust

Feeling love, grace brings accord

Pursuing God’s righteousness

Confessing sins, big and small

Obeying Holy commands

Hanging up when evil calls

Trading former self for love

Abandoning temptation

Accepting Jesus’ new light

His way, life’s blessed station

Teaching life from Father’s Word

Steering lives in righteous ways

Walking in light, blessing faith

Rejoicing with lasting praise

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “Are you trying to carry old baggage into your walk with the Lord? The attitudes, habits, and conduct that were yours before Christ must be abandoned in order for you to walk with God.”

Life’s Better Way (Haiku Series #137)

Posted on June 1, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Impression

Sounding like Eeyore

Winnie-the-Pooh listens in—

Stop this gloomy talk

Renewal

Negative self-talk

Pessimistic attitude—

Life needs makeover

Crossroads

Look into life’s lens

Allow bright sunshine inside—

Turning a new page

Monday Memories: Fallen, Never Forgotten

Posted on May 31, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

American flag

hangs mournfully

at half mast

Honoring a

courageous, fallen soldier

on a distant battlefield

Many come

to honor this

patriotic, young man

Supporting his loved ones

Family, wife, and children

Who will miss

his gentle soul

Let us

never forget

this day!

The ultimate sacrifice

paid by

one mighty soldier

So many others

may be free

U.S. Army Specialist Joseph P. Collette died on March 22, 2019 from enemy fire in Afghanistan while on a combat mission. This poem is written to honor him along with all others who have fallen.

Hope’s Solid Rock

Posted on May 30, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

**Photo by Enric Cruz Lu00f3pez on Pexels.com**

Darkness stirs up from storms

Crashing out of control

Lost in gloomy tempest

Jesus’ anchor, our soul

Hope’s single foundation

Resting on solid rock

Built by Savior Jesus

Robust, righteous bedrock

Jesus carries faith through

Taking oath by His blood

Brings about newest day

Hope survives stormy flood

Daily works mean nothing

Facing life’s rugged slope

Breathe in grace from Jesus

Final beacon of hope

Jesus leads trusting sheep

Climbing to solid rock

Redeemed at Calvary

Hope’s lasting building block

**Photo by Gantas Vaiu010diulu0117nas on Pexels.com**

You are invited to join in and sing along with “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.”

Wisdom’s Guardrails

Posted on May 29, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Life’s journey fills with mistakes

Wisdom’s guardrails prevent headaches

Working together as a team

Life’s active, productive sunbeam

Be available to others

Treat everyone as brothers

Come prepared for each assignment

Results in flawless alignment

Apologize for day’s misdeeds

Forgiveness sowing fertile seeds

Keep secrets to self, follow scripts

Remember now, loose lips sink ships

Checking answers, rechecking twice

Turn over each stone, good advice

Patiently molding shapeless clay

Details finished, now walk away

Stay together, through thick ‘n thin

Tight as a fist, faithful linchpin

Taking charge, bold skipper steering

Encouraging words now cheering

Sometimes, life’s outcomes say we’re wrong

Solving mistakes, newest hit song

This poem’s wisdom was gleamed from Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the American television drama, “NCIS.” Throughout the nearly endless episodes, Mark Harmon’s character shares his timely wisdom from “Gibbs’ Rules.”

Timeless Worship (Elfchen Series #60)

Posted on May 28, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Blessed Harvest

God

Nourishes faith

Planted with righteousness

Reaping upright fruit

Grace

Heaven’s Lifeline

Love

From Father

Embraces and covers

Conquer, prevail, and live

Salvation

Glorious Day

Praise

Heavenly Father

Eternal, steadfast love

Singing life’s new song

Faithfulness

**Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com**

This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.

Morning’s Blindfold

Posted on May 27, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Early morning dawn arrives

Missing nature’s boldest light

Covering heavens and earth

Thickest fog masks sun’s headlight

Ghostly, ominous shadows

Cloaking trees by hidden creek

Slithering mist moves unchecked

Nature fills with blind mystique

Stillness surrounds paradise

Witnessing morning on hold

Waiting patiently for change

Nature removes her blindfold

Suddenly, haze disappears

Hailing sun’s brilliant return

Switching on morning’s magic

Thankfully, fog now adjourns

**Photo by Elias Tigiser on Pexels.com**

Forgiving Ourselves

Posted on May 26, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Burdened by life’s BIG problem

All of man living in sin

Selfishness fueling mistakes

Where should we turn to begin?

Come forward to accept Him

Forgiveness granted from God

Washing away timeless guilt

Can’t forgive self, living flawed

Struggle with self-forgiveness

Guilt’s shadow never pulls back

God’s grace-filled pardon waiting

Feeling unloved, sin attacks

Filling ourselves with sadness

Self-imposed standards now crash

Rely on works over faith

Sin making us feel like trash

Kneeling at Calvary’s cross

Jesus’ blood setting us free

No longer chained to darkness

Forgiving ourselves, guilt flees

**Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com**

From Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”

Time for Fun (Haiku Series #136)

Posted on May 25, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Hunger Tingles

Craving nightly snack

Lover of potato chips—

Ready to “Pringle”

Map Not Required

Montana? Where’s that?

Easy to find, just look up—

Under the Big Sky

**A typical summer Big Sky (captured near Big Timber in August, 2019).**

Rainout

Shortest baseball game

First batter up, downpour starts—

Hit it and quit it!

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Impression

Renewal

Crossroads

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Blessed Harvest

Heaven’s Lifeline

Glorious Day

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Hunger Tingles

Map Not Required

Rainout

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