Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Monday Memories: Generation to Generation

Posted on May 19, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

The inspiration for this poem comes from an essay written by William E. Farr, “Troubled Bundles, Troubled Blackfeet: The Travail of Cultural and Religious Renewal.” This essay is part of a larger collection of writings that link Montana’s past with its future in the book, MONTANA LEGACY.

Facing an uncertain world

Life asking questions of “when”

Intertribal wars threaten

Hostile danger setting in

Preserving Blackfeet culture

Each passing generation

Saving sacred heritage

Hold for next generation

Ritual artifacts cache

Spiritual lives won’t rest

Supernatural visions

Medicine dreams will attest

Honoring warrior life

Holy treasures speaking out

Collected and safeguarded

Sacred bundles carry clout

Filling with key elements

Common and natural sought

Feathers, hides, shells, horns added

Teeth, wood, bones . . . each with a thought

Passing on these rituals

Mother Earth, Creative Sun

Guarding life’s sacred relics

Legacy, father to son

**Sample of a bundle’s contents (courtesy of Pinterest).**

Originally published November, 2020.

Praises of Joy

Posted on May 18, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

Witnessing God’s mercy

Praises of joy heard above

Rejoicing in His presence

Angels’ voices share love

Flowing with love-filled peace

God’s divine plan offers hope

Turning back enemy’s breath

Grace flows down Zion’s slope

Gathering Shepherd’s flock

Each sinner trusts light ahead

Exulting in God’s glory

Fed from love’s daily bread

Coming to Calvary

Christ bearing salvation’s key

Raising love beyond heavens

Debts nailed to brutal tree

Embracing righteousness

Darkness no longer pursues

Proclaiming risen Good News

Savior’s love, always true

Bountiful Insight (Elfchen Series #252)

Posted on May 16, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

Acceptance

Embracing

Journey ahead

Trusting Father’s input

Spirit’s faithful, guiding light

Wisdom

**Photo by Wendy van Zyl on Pexels.com**

Cultivation

Gathering

Precious seeds

Father’s wisdom sown

Harvesting His timely grace

Truth

**Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com**

Reassurance

Savoring

Positive outlook

Taking righteous steps

Empowered with Father’s wisdom

Contentment

**Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com**

Pathway Toward Success

Posted on May 15, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

American baseball legend, George Herman “Babe” Ruth, had a simple philosophy as a hitter: “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” In his major league career, he endured many, many strikeouts, but he also hit record numbers of home runs.

Journey’s imperfections

Discovering each day

Simple philosophy

Always swinging away

Freedom to meet failure

Swinging again with might

Confidence maturing

Baseball rises in flight

Pathway toward success

Achieving one more dream

Every strikeout teaches

Lessons ride each sunbeam

Vision’s bright tomorrow

Learning from yesterday

New challenges arrive

Inning’s next double play

Courage stepping out front

Embracing today’s game

Fearless in attitude

Humbleness blends with fame

Transformative

Posted on May 14, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

From Isaiah 32:17: “The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.”

**Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels.com**

Transformative in vision

Merciful justice reigns

Filled with Father’s righteousness

Harvesting ripened grain

Transformative in purpose

Judgment from Father’s hand

Thirst quenched by living waters

Saving this weary land

Transformative in mission

Refuge upon hope’s rock

Eyes opened to Father’s truth

Encouraging faith’s flock

Transformative in passion

Forgiveness of debts owed

Resurrection’s eternal light

Walking Christ’s risen road

From Luke 24:13-16: “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.”

Renewal (Haiku Series #328)

Posted on May 13, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

Comforting

Morning’s gentle rain

Rinsing away dark outlook—

Sun rises with peace

Refreshing

Giant redwoods breathe

Quenching rains arrive onshore—

Coastline feeling peace

Fulfilling

Mountain waters run

Chasing ocean far away—

Rivers’ flowing peace

**Photo by Baskin Creative Co. on Pexels.com**

Monday Memories: Anthem of Grace

Posted on May 12, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

From Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Weary times, filled with quiet tears

Witnessing mankind’s cruelest hurts

Hate, division, violence, fears

God’s grace, peace, love . . . never deserts

When witnessing injustice, stand

Lift up voices, sing with passion

Offer a loving, helping hand

Filled with oneness and compassion

No longer sit with thoughts muzzled

Liberty-filled harmonies ring

God’s grace flows, days never puzzled

Loud as roaring seas, let us sing

God’s Word lighting eternal fires

Inside our faith, unwavering

Hope fills each heart, never expires

Teachings of Jesus, favoring

Jesus always front and center

Faithfully walking as His feet

Loving as His hands, our mentor

Marching on, His grace ever sweet

From 1 John 5:3-5: “For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Originally published October, 2020.

With Each Sunrise

Posted on May 11, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 118:21-22: “I thank you that You have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”

Reminded with each sunrise

Praise Resurrection’s light

Redemption rises with Christ

Witness empty tomb at daylight

Gates of righteousness opened

Rejoice, be glad in it

Salvation’s final answer

At Calvary, Christ’s love submits

Freed from sin by Savior’s blood

Spirit stirs within man

Nourished with His mercy’s peace

Promises fulfilled through God’s plan

Each step, filled with repentance

Mercy always present

Believe in faith’s risen Lord

Gathered in prayer, as He meant

Follow Shepherd’s tender voice

Path ahead, filled with love

Grace shall cleanse, power to free

Truth speaks from Heaven’s throne above

From John 20:26-27: “A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it in My side. Do not doubt but believe.'”

Fulfilling Grace (Elfchen Series #251)

Posted on May 9, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

Resolve

Facing

Life’s detours

Unwavering faith breathes

Filled with Savior’s hope

Overcoming

Reaffirm

Waiting

Patience nourished

Savior’s risen spirit

Filled with mercy’s connection

Reflecting

Rekindle

Believing

Savior’s light

Darkness swept away

Filled with love’s truth

Maturing

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.

Storm Coming

Posted on May 8, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

Tomorrow crashing

Storm coming

Apathy’s reign building

Grave doubts becoming

Challenges brewing

Storm coming

Intensity building

Darkness incoming

Opinions clashing

Storm coming

Confusion keeps building

Future’s shortcomings

All nations trembling

Storm coming

World’s grim outlook building

Frightened and numbing

Trusted light glowing

Peace coming

Storm no longer building

Hope-filled homecoming

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Acceptance

Cultivation

Reassurance

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Comforting

Refreshing

Fulfilling

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Resolve

Reaffirm

Rekindle

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