Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Gentle Sounds

Posted on April 25, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Morning rain has marooned me at home

A brisk walk delayed, but never alone

Drinking coffee, another cup please

Addicted to caffeine with such ease

The early morning darkness

Stands ready in its stillness

The window is cracked open, just a bit

Hearing marvelous sounds, makes a hit

Pausing to listen and begin to write

Sounds of pleasure, being so right

Falling droplets of rain earn a trip down

Splashes on the deck, a relaxing sound

Song birds croon from atop tall trees

Sounding splendid, joyous, and free

Wet roads, close by, signal more

Amplifying car tires, ready to roar

An approaching plane flies overhead

Traveling on to Rickenbacker instead

A pair of geese flies through the sky

Their unique greeting says good-bye

My pen scratches delicately away

Listening to ink-filled words today

Simply enjoying an outlook from outside

Bringing life’s gentle sounds to me inside

“Rickenbacker” refers to Rickenbacker International Airport, south of Columbus, Ohio. The facility provides space for civil, military, and commercial aviation needs in the central Ohio area. The airport’s namesake is Eddie Rickenbacker, a World War I flying ace from Columbus.

If you are in the mood for more “morning” poetry, check out these previously published poems.

Morning Prayer
Early Morning Moments

Weary Soul

Posted on April 23, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Itati Tapia on Pexels.com

Waking up, feeling all worn out

Nothing to even say or shout

Fearing the day ahead

Should I stay in bed?

Nudging myself to move

Where is today’s groove?

Walking over to the table

Will I honestly feel able?

Feeling a cool, gentle breeze

From a window, brings a need

Turning Bible pages to a spot

Now God’s words find its dot

Speaking to me, comes a Savior

His words convey a new flavor

“Come to me, you are weary”

My eyes gaze tired and teary

“Your burdens are heavy, I see”

Jesus brings a time-out to thee

Christ remains patient and humble

Gathering me up when I stumble

He commands rest for weary souls

Easing a hefty load, much too full

Our Lord waits only a quick step away

His precious words bring plenty to say

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Much of the inspiration for this poem comes from the Bible. The precious words spoken by our Savior Jesus proclaim from Matthew 11:28-30.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Preserving Our Earthly Home

Posted on April 22, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

The planet is fashioned by God’s expert hands

Creating the depths and peaks across the land

He uses wisdom to create the seas

Refreshing the dry land that we see

Earth Day arrives as an annual event

Witnessing our actions that implement

We are asked to be loyal guardians of this earth

Preserving it always, adds to its value and worth

Loss of natural treasures causes intense sadness

Being good stewards, brings God much gladness

Farmers operate to be effective caretakers of the land

Asking the rest of us to walk with them, hand in hand

We are called by our Lord to be fully aware

Sending out trustworthy legions, always fair

History and science often transmit gloomy news

Watching this earthly home decline in our view

Look around the planet, where we call home to be

Asking, what can be accomplished for God to see?

Perhaps our political kingpins should stop and pause

Leading a call to action for a just and worthy cause

Our planet is transforming before our vigilant eyes

Envisioning climate change and more as time flies

Our earthly sanctuary furnishes a home for all

Protecting our environment, too precious to fall

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Earth Day is a yearly event on April 22. Many view “Earth Day” as an every day activity to preserve our planet for future generations. These verses from Psalm 95:3-5 bring to mind God’s wondrous creation, which deserves our fullest attention in being excellent stewards of what He has given us.

“For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods. In His hands are the depths of the earth; and the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and the dry land, which His hands have formed.”

Resurrection Hope

Posted on April 19, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Our Lord’s Resurrection

Brings forth Salvation

Photo by Peter on Pexels.com

His Father guides Abraham to faithfully pray

Allowing acts of devotion with richness to say

King David speaks of the coming Messiah

Just as images emanate forth from Isaiah

Skeptics scoff, declare Resurrection is untrue

Christ proclaims He has indeed risen—so true!

The Father’s fulfills His grace-filled plan

Reaching out to us with His paternal hand

God generates hope for a darkness-filled land

All witness the piercings on His son’s hands

Christ’s blood is spilled for your sins and mine

Bringing the Cross front and center for all time

God carries forth His amazing grace

Making Resurrection a genuine place

Christ comes alive to witness and call

I am the Resurrection and life for all

Jesus brings Salvation to the righteous

Offering hope to even the unrighteous

Being saved by red blood shed for thee

Humbling ourselves and taking a knee

Many believers arrive to proudly proclaim

Christ’s Resurrection is more than a game

Each and every day all should always say

Christ offers His shed blood to fully pay

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

Our Lord’s Resurrection

Brings forth Salvation

If you are looking for more Christian-based poetry, here are links to some of Big Sky Buckeye’s past publications.

Final Battle

Posted on April 17, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

An outdoor mural captures the heroism of Native American warriors

On a sunny, blistering hot June day and hour

Two cultures collide in an epic that now towers

White, European culture ever advances to take

Native American culture realizes what’s at stake

America’s first citizens reside as native born

Now witnessing their way of life being torn

The Little Bighorn River provides a place for rest

Nestled in a large village are warriors, the best

Journeying into the Montana Territory for a cause

U.S. Calvary relentlessly travels without a pause

Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho await

The brave soldiers never realize their final fate

Lakota spiritual leader Sitting Bull envisions all

“Thick as grasshoppers” come soldiers to fall

The 7^th Calvary invades the stream called Greasy Grass

Led by Lieutenant Colonel Custer, many die much too fast

Crazy Horse and Gall command warriors in this feat

Annihilating most of Custer’s troops in total defeat

The marker at the lower right identifies where Lt. Colonel George Custer fell during the battle. His remains are interred at West Point.

The coalition of Native Americans wins today

Bringing honor to warriors with much to say

The great Sioux nation wins this final showdown

But their way of life will enter its final sundown

A collision of cultures—Native and White

Today, there is no reason to ever fight

The human rights of the Native Americans still blaze

Working to preserve a culture without further decay

Little Bighorn Battlefield is located in Montana about an hour’s drive from Billings on Interstate 90. The pictures shown were taken at the battlefield site a few years ago.

If you are interested in reading more about Montana, check out these previous posts:

Visit the Magic City (Billings, Montana)

Photo Gallery (includes numerous photographs of Montana as well as Ohio)

A Hole in the Middle

Posted on April 16, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Enjoy something sweet on Big Sky Buckeye and hopefully share a laugh with me! Due to his crusade against sugar (and successfully keeping his blood sugar under control), he cannot even remember the last time that such a treat touched his lips.

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

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 of “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’

In case you missed some past sweet posts, here are some links to take you back for more. Enjoy!

To An Athlete

Posted on April 14, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

baseball player in gray and black uniform running

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

There are little eyes upon you

And they’re watching night and day

There are little ears that quickly

Take in every word you say

There are little hands all eager

To do anything you do

And a little boy who’s dreaming

Of the day he’ll be like you

You’re the little fellow’s idol

You’re the wisest of the wise

In his little mind about you

No suspicions ever rise

He believes in you devoutly

Holds that all you say and do

He will say and do in your way

When he’s grown up like you

There’s a wide-eyed little fellow

Who believes you’re always right

And his ears are always open

And he watches day and night

You are setting an example

Every day in all you do

For the little boy who’s waiting

To grow up and be like you

Author Unknown

When I was coaching years ago at a high school in Montana, the football coach gave all of the coaches a framed copy of this poem. I have carried it with me for all of these years, and it has special meaning to me as one who worked with young athletes for about 30 years.

This poem is easy to find on other Internet sites. Some of the posts use a different title, but the words remain the same. The author has remained unknown. Many young athletes aspire to follow an older athlete . . .

Waiting to grow up and be like you!

Spring’s Masterpiece

Posted on April 13, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

2019 April 8 Chestnut Ridge 003.JPG

Witnessing God’s creation in the early dawn light

Illuminating from the sun’s rays, always so bright

Walking again on the trails at Chestnut Ridge this morn

Experiencing nature’s miracle, almost like being reborn

Hearing a chorus of birds, heralding the arrival

Welcoming all back from this winter’s survival

Flowing beneath a small bridge, a tiny creek runs by

Catching the run-off from nature’s tears which cry

Crying with happiness at God’s awesome wonder

Waking up the land from a long winter’s slumber

Sprouting skyward along the fringes of a narrow path

Adding a fresh, green carpet with color ready to splash

Rustling through the still leafless trees

Blowing wind brings a coolness for free

Appreciating these moments with God alone

Checking never to see who texts to my phone

Dashing down a steep hill, moves a solitary deer

Escaping my camera, she has nothing to fear

Spying the final remnants of an eroding tree stump

Framing its presence with moss growing in clumps

Flying in, a robin red-breast assesses the ground

Thinking to myself, haven’t seen you much around

Holding a brief meeting, a pair of squirrels scatters

Scurrying away to a safe, rotting log, now in tatters

Noticing few walking these trails, not very fast

Allowing me to enjoy a conversation that lasts

Winking through thickets of trees, towering and ancient

Shining sun brings out God’s true and loving patience

2019 April 8 Chestnut Ridge 008.JPG

Heavenly Message

Posted on April 10, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

When I stumble

My body tumbles

Weakness fills me

Not worthy to see

Attempting to move

Just not in my groove

People walk right by

None saying even “hi”

Ignoring me there

Silence never fair

Feeling so much alone

Picking up my phone

Finding short text to read

Responding to my needs

Standing up now

Kneeling to bow

The message sustains

No, I’m not to blame

“My brother, rise up thee

Now, always follow me”

Jesus!

Elfchen Series #3

Posted on April 9, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Actor

John Wayne

Westerns and more

The Searchers, True Grit

Legendary

Photo by Torsten Dettlaff on Pexels.com

Beautiful

Lovely woman

Amazingly stunning dress

She’s a hot ticket!

Always

Here is a link to “Elfchen Series #2” in case you missed it.

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