Eagle’s invasion
Trespassing and threatening—
Tiny bird attacks
Dark clouds approaching
When thunderstorm moves away—
Tree limbs wave goodbye
Footprints on the beach
Nature brings its eraser—
Surf cleans them away
This sweet poem was originally published in April, 2019, and it remains one of Big Sky Buckeye’s most viewed and liked posts. While I now refrain from enjoying doughnuts (because I need to watch my sugars and carbs), there was a day when I could never turn down a delicious treat. Enjoy!
Simple, yet decadent pleasures they are
Being quite easy to locate from your car
Driving down the road each day
Now you wonder what it is, I say
The coffee’s on and ready to go
Include a doughnut for the road
Missing doughnuts for so many weeks
Passing them up is never for the meek
Call them “donuts”, many Americans say
For me, I prefer “doughnuts” to this day
My doctor instructs me, “No sugar for you!”
Now my doughnut days are sadly through
However, doughnut temptation sings a song
If I reach for one, there is a deafening gong!
Sorry mister, there will never be doughnuts for you
So I continue down the road, singin’ the sad blues
Who made the doughnut hole in the middle?
Now that has always been quite the riddle
Waking up in the middle of a lonesome night
Dreaming of doughnuts makes a sugary sight
While some folks are addicted to Krispy Kreme
My doughnut tastes envision a different theme
Boston Cream, Long John, and Jelly
All sound delicious to my hungry belly
Old-fashioned, Sour Cream, and Glazed
Why can’t I enjoy a simple one today?
Now in my car and hungrily driving at midnight
The Jolly Pirate Donut shop stays open all night
I pull into the empty parking lot with sad surprise
The sign reads, “Closed tonight”— alas no prize!
This poem could continue on and on and on for sure
Does anyone have a doughnut to share with this sir?
Here’s a final footnote:
In the classic film “It Happened One Night”
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert are a fright
Gable, the newspaper man, enlightens
Colbert, the heiress, never frightens
As they travel the back roads and stop
For a cup of hot coffee at a tiny shop
. . . with doughnuts for dunkin’
From Psalm 146:1-2: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”
Bless the Lord’s name forever
Sing praises for Holy deeds
His greatness stands infinite
Loving us like tender reeds
Witness our Lord’s mighty acts
Share with each generation
His greatness lauds His goodness
Building our firm foundation
Recall love works from His hands
Fueled by Grace’s steadfast love
His greatness flows with mercy
Protecting us from above
Call on the Father this day
Pray to Him on humble knees
His greatness lighting the way
Watching over all He sees
From Psalm 145:17-18: “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Sitting home, isolated and alone
Taking virtual trips, changes life’s tone
America’s landscapes invite us in
Scenic mountain vistas, adventures grin
Alaska Range, home to our northernmost peaks
Denali “the tall one” forever speaks
Cascade Range roams the Pacific Northwest
Snow-capped volcanoes offer stunning quests
Sierra Nevada’s enchanted land
Host national parks, majestic and grand
Rocky Mountains form this nation’s backbone
Stunning beauty, more precious than gemstones
Sawtooth Mountains salute from Idaho
Endless summits bring skiers to the snow
Bighorn Mountains, sacred to native ways
Montana-Wyoming border sings praise
Adirondack Mountains, New York’s playground
Winter skiing, fall foliage—best around
Great Smoky Mountains push for Tennessee
Fog-covered peaks, spellbinding all agree
Blue Ridge Mountains welcome us back home
Free-flowing Shenandoah smiles and roams
Wherever you live or where your travels take you, you may have a favorite mountain paradise. One of my precious favorites is the Beartooth Mountains in south-central Montana, a stone’s throw away from Yellowstone National Park.
You are invited to share one of your special places in the comments.
From Isaiah 55:1: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.”
Seeking abundant life
Never arrives from man
All will thirst for much more
Accept God’s Holy plan
Our Lord’s invitation
Never hidden from us
Just step forward today
Follow God, always a plus
Tasting His bread of life
Never bitter to eat
Peace arrives with each day
Listen for its steady beat
Our Father’s always near
Never absent with love
Come, come worship the Lord
Read His Word, from above
Finding life’s one true joy
Never alone with Him
Invitation welcomed
Filling us to the brim
From Isaiah 55:12: “For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace.”
Shall we judge others?
Who among you have not sinned?
Room quickly empties
Darkness covers life
Filling with harshness and pain—
Show love to others
Believers join God
Salvation belongs to Him—
Good over evil
From Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
Feeling weary and lost
How can any prevail?
Desolate road ahead
Actions will surely fail
Lost in darkness of life
Our Father lights the way
Filled with His righteousness
God’s road map saves our day
Our Lord’s Word speaking truth
Daily meditation
Bible’s meanings ring clear
Leading to salvation
Study God’s Holy Word
Share its hope and Good News
Trusting each promise
His commands, we must choose
Inhale, breathe it all in
Fed by the “Bread of Life”
Quenched by “Living Water”
Transforming daily life
From the words of American-born missionary and Christian theologian, E. Stanley Jones: “The Gospel is not so much a demand as it is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God.”
From a ridgetop garden
Nature’s treasure hides out
Offering its harvest
Flora lives all about
Flowers blooming early
Winter now disappears
Colorful bouquets reign
Sweetest fragrances cheer
Warming springtime sunshine
Changes the ground cover
New, tender shoots of grass
Young deer will discover
Trellis roof shelters grapes
Ripen in summer’s sun
Fill with juicy flavor
Birds enjoy tasty fun
Apple and black walnut trees
Shading nature’s grand shrine
Fruit dropping to the ground
Squirrels and deer will dine
Former home site lives on
Garden paradise waits
Coming alive each spring
Winking back at its mates
All of the photographs were taken during a couple of recent morning walk at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is just minutes away from Canal Winchester, Ohio. The hilltop garden remains long after the house (built in the 1930s) was abandoned. I was blessed to spend several minutes photographing a very cooperative deer while I was quietly standing near a tree.
Rabbit
Sensing danger
Heart beating fast
Sitting quiet and still
Invisible
Morning
Glorious sunrise
Big Montana Sky
Prairies, mountains smile forever
Applause
Hiking
Park trail
With cautious steps
Who’s watching me now?
Greetings
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.”
Life’s journey suddenly growing cold
Living under clouds of uncertainty
No longer feeling confident and bold
Even confident people possess fears
Overcome by unplanned dilemmas
Feeling much like the rest of our peers
Our faithful prayers will be heard
God’s will scatters those stormy clouds
Never lose hope, listen to His Word
As neighbors, our love supports each other
Through our steadfast encouragement
Children of God, true sisters and brothers
Tackling problems on life’s clipboard
Filled with determination and courage
Walking in confidence with our Lord
From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”
Big Sky Buckeye 