Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

From Her Window

Posted on August 6, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Peering out from her window

Times changing much, much too fast

Being alone many years

Husband and friends having passed

Small home meets her meager needs

But, the neighborhood has changed

Folks come and go, few she knows

Life blurs by, as if arranged

Sheltered from the outside world

Homebound most days by herself

Family in distant states

Ignored like books on a shelf

Watching some television

Staying away from the news

Remembering old classics

Dreaming of Julie Andrews

Reading occupies her time

Local newspaper connects

Crossword puzzle smiling back

Novels thrill with their suspects

Peering out from her window

Another sunset draws near

Unfamiliar car drives up

Grandchildren bring happy tears

Quintet of Brothers

Posted on July 9, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

College basketball star and high school majorette

Growing up under Montana’s brilliant Big Sky

Destined to raise this band of brothers as their sons

Rearing five boys, better than any Fourth of July

Household of boys born over a span of twelve years

Perhaps their father dreams of a basketball team

While their mother nurtures with love and care

Quintet of brothers’ thoughts filling with biggest dreams

Brothers grow up, facing life’s many challenges

Inspired by a father with amazing courage

Battling back from near-fatal car crash in his youth

His steadfast work ethic always encourages

These driven brothers discover their niche at school

Excelling with their academics in the classroom

Competition fuels a welcome outlet through sports

Lives mature too quickly, future destinies zoom

This family story would never be complete

The boys’ mother remembers God’s lovely bouquet

These five brothers always cherish their one sister

Believe it or not, she’s born on Valentine’s Day

**Photo by Molly Champion on Pexels.com**

This poem gives you a quick glimpse into my childhood family. Growing up under Montana’s Big Sky was a blessing for my brothers and sister. The memories will last a lifetime.

Always with Us (Haiku Series #80)

Posted on June 5, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Finding

Running to Jesus

Feeling the Holy Spirit—

Finding still waters

Hearing

Kneeling at the Cross

Praying for America—

Hearing the Gospel

Loving

Jesus’ teaches us

Always loving our neighbors—

Step forward as one

Walking with Jesus

Posted on June 3, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Selected verses from Psalm 122 bring inspiration for this poem. America, as a nation, needs healing and reconciliation. The two verses of Scripture take us on a journey from where we have been to where we wish to go.

From Jeremiah 6:14: “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

Praying for peace in our city

Loving Jesus takes center stage

Welcoming peace into all hearts

Hearing love of God over rage

Listening to cries of anguish

Walking with Jesus protects all

Showing empathy for neighbors

Sharing His peace at every call

Stepping forward with trusting words

Treating these wounds with Jesus’ care

Saying “peace, peace” with conviction

Lifting hands high, love fills the air

Standing and feeding His lost flock

Replacing discord, Jesus comes

Proclaiming a new dawn today

Following Grace-filled, beating drum

**Photo by Caleb Oquendo on Pexels.com**

From Isaiah 57:19: “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”

William Penn Quote

Posted on May 26, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Love is the hardest lesson in Christianity; but, for that reason, it should be most our care to learn it.

From Mark 12:29-31: “Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.'”

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

Following His Voice

Posted on May 10, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From 1 Peter 2:25: “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

Like sheep, we wander astray

Turning away from our Lord

Feeling harassed and helpless

Sheep lost, by our own accord

God lays a new cornerstone

Our Good Shepherd, Holy Son

Calling us, hearing His voice

His work will never be done

Leading us, on this right path

Following His voice, love flows

With Him, we shall never want

Restoring souls, we all grow

Good Shepherd, loving His sheep

Bringing comfort, rod and staff

Green pastures, nourishing us

Still waters, on our behalf

Jesus, loving Good Shepherd

Unblemished, Lamb of God casts

Body and blood on that Cross

Risen Savior, His hope lasts

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

From Christian author, W. Phillip Keller: “It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us.”

Love Sings Hallelujah

Posted on April 18, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Creating a rainbow, love inspires

Connecting two lives, becoming one

Merging together, feelings inside

Celebrating, we’ve only begun

Meeting at life’s crossroads, love brings truth

Confessing before our Lord, now one

Living as a twosome, sharing love

Spending time together, never done

Cherishing our love, always special

Sharing our dreams, dwelling between us

Leading us on a life adventure

Capturing a moment, on life’s bus

Depending on each other, love bonds

Growing tired of each other, never

Celebrating God’s gifts, shared with us

Changing our minds about us, never

Weathering life’s storms, love conquers all

Singing Hallelujah, love declares

Leaning on each other, love endures

Treasuring us, God’s love truly cares

man in black long sleeved shirt and woman in black dress

Photo by Jasmine Wallace Carter on Pexels.com

From 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

James Dobson Quote

Posted on April 16, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

It is important to know that you have to work to keep love alive; you have to protect it and maintain is, just like you would a delicate flower.

From 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

Passing the Torch

Posted on April 11, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

man wearing gray and brown hat with eyeglasses

Photo by Marllon Cristhian Barbosa on Pexels.com

Watching Saturday’s unhurried sunrise

Feeling gratefulness, spirit shall arise

Being retired, life moves at much slower pace

Realizing, there’s no need to win life’s race

Remembering grandfathers, crisp and clear

Teaching life lessons, steady and sincere

Growing up, learning from their example

Tasting life with every new sample

Loving family, with kindness and care

Treating marriage, with love beyond compare

Passing on wisdom, making good choices

Sitting here now, hearing cherished voices

Accepting their torch, these years move along

Being a grandfather, where love belongs

Filling up life, grandchildren sharing love

Joining other grandfathers, fits like a glove

Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com

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Finding

Hearing

Loving

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