Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Hamlet’s Summer Day

Posted on May 30, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

The inspiration for this poem comes from a photograph published on Jan’s blog in her “Wordless Wednesday” post. Check out her site for some wonderful poetry, inspiration, photography, and so much more. There is probably a hint (yes, definitely) of the rustic and tranquil life experienced in the small communities of western Montana.

green mountains near river under blue sky

Photo by Wiriyah Ruechaipanit on Pexels.com

Picturesque, isolated hamlet

Resting below mountainous shadows

Nestled along lake’s calming fingers

Life’s narrative writing tranquil prose

Sunrise crawls over the mountaintop

Cruising silently in their small boat

Early to rise anglers find their spot

Baiting hooks for trout with rainbow coats

Soon village shops begin to open

Curious shoppers fill crowded streets

Welcoming Farmers’ Market today

Locals selling homegrown goods and treats

Later, stillness returns to the town

Sunny, summer day comes to an end

Sun setting behind lake’s dozing shore

Waiting for tomorrow’s best friends

Photo by Maximilian Münzl on Pexels.com

Moments with Nature (Elfchen Series #17)

Posted on May 29, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Tender Moments

Morning

Gentle rain

Geese flying overhead

Nature starts her day

Serenity

Photo by Gabriela Palai on Pexels.com

Nightly Blessing

Sunset

Evening twilight

Chorus of colors

Painting our Creator’s masterpiece

Nightfall

Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels.com

Changing

Trees

Tiny buds

New leaves sprout

Growing greener, bigger, fuller

Grandeur

2019 May 24 Walnut Woods and Chestnut Ridge 014

Summer’s glory in full display at Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.

Choices Through Faith

Posted on May 28, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of American pastor and Christian evangelist, Vance Havner: “Life is a series of choices between the bad, the good, and the best. Everything depends on how we choose.”

Photo by Martin on Pexels.com

Our daily walk encounters many tests

Life’s decisions shall never be easy

Facing a series of heartfelt choices

Sometimes feeling so alone and uneasy

Quality decisions lead life forward

God’s Word and righteousness always shining

Making choices, pleasing to our Father

Our Lord’s love, His sacred silver lining

God chooses our Savior—His Holy Son

Jesus becomes our faithful source of life

Bringing lasting redemption to ourselves

Hope-filled Cross saving the foolish from strife

Our Father calls many, few are chosen

His chosen, precious cornerstone—Jesus

Believing in Him, never put to shame

Living by faith through our Lord, who frees us

Jesus chooses us in His Father’s name

Days ahead offer bounties of treasures

Following His love and wealth of teachings

Therefore, bear lasting fruit through His measures

Photo by Marius Venter on Pexels.com

From 2 Corinthians 5:6-7: “So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord–for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Never Alone

Posted on May 27, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

I keep a daily journal of “take-aways” from my devotional readings. This poem was crafted from some of my February entries.

Photo by Jaymantri on Pexels.com

Sitting alone and hopeless

Faith’s shadow, covered in rust

God awakens mind and soul

In His Spirit, words bring trust

Turning to God, always there

His footprints walking ahead

Through life’s hefty challenges

Our Lord brings our daily bread

Reading from His Holy Word

Always giving thanks and praise

Marvelous things, God has done

Our hope alive and ablaze

Growing in faith, from our woes

Therefore, pray . . . listen . . . follow

Righteous life following Christ

Savior’s hope, never hollow

Facing temptation each day

Alignment with Son of God

Blood and body shed for us

Boldly fleeing evil’s fraud

Photo by Michael Morse on Pexels.com

From Galatians 6:1-2: “My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Baseball Memories (Haiku Series #78)

Posted on May 26, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

National Pastime

Inning by inning

Baseball’s enduring fabric—

Life in a box score

white baseball ball on brown leather baseball mitt

Photo by Steshka Willems on Pexels.com

Trailblazer

Baseball broadcasting

Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson–

Game open to all

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Count on Him

Iron Horse plays each game

Playing in Yankees pinstripes—

Lou Gehrig stands tall

high angle view of train on railroad tracks

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Graceful Precision

Posted on May 25, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

This poem was written in November, 2018, to honor one of my granddaughters for her dedication to her sport of gymnastics. Her passion and skills definitely show how far she has progressed over the years.

Photo by Burst on Pexels.com

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

Deliverance from Troubles

Posted on May 24, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

The Bible offers a rich source of thanksgiving, hope, and deliverance as Psalm 107 inspires the text for this poem.

From Psalm 107:1-2: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those He redeemed from trouble.”

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

Thanking our Lord above

Seeing His wondrous deeds

His Holy, steadfast love

All humankind, He leads

Overwhelming distress

Crying out to the Lord

Discovering His light

Living by His accord

Bringing us from darkness

Satisfying our thirst

Saving us with His light

Loving us, always first

Filling endless hunger

Breaking these sinful chains

Reaching out to His light

Trusting God, with the reins

Halting all wickedness

Calming all stormy winds

Healing us with His light

Forgiving dark-filled sins

Praising our Redeemer

Hearing cries, not ignored

Delivering His light

Giving thanks to our Lord

Thanking our Lord above

Seeing His wondrous deeds

His Holy, steadfast love

All humankind, He leads

Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com

From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “Circumstances occur that could easily crush us. We can hand the circumstances to God and ask Him to take control or we can roll up our mental sleeves and slug it out.”

Rugged Beauty

Posted on May 22, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Have you ever visited any of America’s western badlands? Some of my travels have allowed the me the privilege to experience these wonders of nature.

A panoramic view of the Painted Canyon Overlook off of Interstate 94 near Medora, North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Hidden beauty, waiting to be found

Western badlands, ready to be crowned

Nature proclaims its rugged features

Wildlife views from its austere bleachers

Kaleidoscope of creatures around

Falcons, eagles, deer, bison abound

Barren environment, a wasteland

Native tribes nicknaming this “bad land”

Slippery clay gumbo, sinking sand

Fur trappers evade these harsh badlands

Timely erosion unearths treasures

Fossil beds offering up pleasures

Late spring rains transform the quiet view

Green velvet covers buttes, right on cue

Sleeping landscape erupts with color

Prairie flowers dazzle and holler

Brilliant colors reflect morning’s light

Ravines, gullies paint prismatic sights

Another view of the North Dakota badlands. If one looks closely, there is an American Bison in the center of this photo.

My journeys out West have allowed me to visit three of America’s treasured badlands: Makoshika State Park (near Glendive, Montana), Theodore Roosevelt National Park (near Medora, North Dakota), and Badlands National Park (near Rapid City, South Dakota).

Visions of Love (Tanka Series #1)

Posted on May 21, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

A Tanka is a Japanese form of poetry, which is related to its cousin Haiku. The poem uses 31 syllables covering five lines (with syllable counts following a 7, 5, 5, 7 and 7 sequence). An effective Tanka uses personification, metaphors, and similes in its construction, and it performs well in expressing a mood, a thought, or a feeling.

Love fills the cosmos

Dancing among twinkling stars

Destined to shout out

Galaxies singing with joy

Witnessing marital bliss

mountain under starry sky during nighttime

Photo by Jakob on Pexels.com

Love breathing with joy

Smiling with each encounter

Spanning countless miles

Igniting one connection

Nurturing with every kiss

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

Love struggles at times

Drowning in desert valleys

Clawing for ways out

Traversing each mountaintop

Shouting with joy, a new start

Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

Serenity’s Rain

Posted on May 20, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Witnessing an early morning rain inspires the visions for this poem. It is amazing how a view through an open window can bring forth images to write from.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Replenishing parched, barren land

Serenity’s rain, from God’s hand

Quenching desert’s eternal thirst

Nature smiling, joy now disbursed

Nourishing life with loving pride

Flora and fauna, at God’s side

Touching each leaf, stems from God’s love

Hues of green, colored from above

Singing with praise, birds bless this scene

Creation glowing, dazzling sheen

Sharing splendor, feeling at peace

Morning rain, grants life a new lease

Listening closely, hearing now

God’s serenity, takes a bow

Photo by Sofie Vanborm on Pexels.com

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Tender Moments

Nightly Blessing

Changing

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National Pastime

Trailblazer

Count on Him

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