Dawn’s welcoming sign
Sunrise offers daily grace—
Unforgettable
Morning showers fade
Rainbow’s vividness appears—
Testament of peace
Evening’s curtain drops
Serenity’s sunset glows—
Time’s faithful footnote
I feel so fortunate to have so much of nature’s treasures not far from my front door. Two metro parks are a short drive away, and their endless song always beckons me to return. The photos used with this poem were taken in central Ohio at various times of the year.
Nature will never sing the blues
Her beauty sends out blessed clues
Walking with her in tranquil woods
Sharing her soul, always feels good
Moments cherished, singing with joy
Her spirit brings much to enjoy
Spending endless hours in her care
Filling with melodies to share
Life’s journey follows nature’s tune
Her endless smile reaches the moon
Smelling the essence of tall pines
Tasting better than vineyard’s wines
Cycle of living never fades
Nature coyly playing charades
Changing seasons bring new décor
Hearing symphonies, voices soar
Autumn sets up winter’s game plan
Spring fading into summer’s tan
Composing its endless, ageless song
Hearing nature, singing along
Originally published June, 2020.
Mountain stream’s birthplace
Creator shall lead
Treasured, flowing grace
Winter’s snow feeds
Journey downstream flows
With patient pursuit
Valley waits below
Douglas fir salutes
Tiny creeks joining
Green landscape ahead
Filled with rejoicing
River’s growing thread
Water’s quiet poise
Nature’s faithful love
Rainfall adding joy
Strengthened from above
Around every bend
Timeless spirit’s fate
Welcome dearest friend
More surprises wait
Window’s morning view
Feeling pull of forest’s tune—
Heart breathes harmony
Sunset’s gentle breeze
Turning heavenly pages—
Endless horizons
Summer soon fading
Waiting for autumn’s return—
Filling with color
Harmony drops in
Lifting spirits high
Waking from slumber
Morning’s bluest sky
Valley’s faithful river
Unending with peace
Flowing with wisdom
Comforts never cease
Sun brightens flashbacks
Counting former days
Energizing with joy
Ready now to play
Time injects stillness
Billowing with clouds
Yielding blessed shade
Whispers never loud
Heaven’s love singing
Blessing life below
Extending day’s light
Nature now aglow
Each calming sunrise
Warmest personality—
Treasured summer breath
Sunrise awakens
Color added to landscape—
Stirring with brightness
Transforming sunrise
Moonlight now fading way—
Day’s curtain rises
Early morning moon
Leaving at sunrise
Life awakens above
Welcoming brightest blue skies
Heavens’ newest page
Sharing rested smile
Vision captures each scene
Unlocking Creator’s file
Light follows skyward
Landing at treetop
Canopy’s leafy look
Holding up every dewdrop
Clouds shift overhead
Fluffing each pillow
Onboard timeless sunset
Rising with every billow
Gentle breeze humming
Composing fresh tunes
Harmony’s precision
Sailing toward fullest moon
Morning’s gentle light
Welcomed sunrise testifies—
Heavens shine with hope
Evening dusk returns
Landscape’s relaxing sunset—
Tomorrow’s peace rests
Dreamy stars waken
Galaxy twinkling with love—
Stirring nightly joy
This poem features photos taken of a majestic American sycamore tree, which is found at Walnut Woods Metro Park. The tree is likely over a hundred years old. The location is part of an extensive network of nature parks in the central Ohio area around Columbus and Franklin County. These photos were taken during a series of walks that I’ve made over the past few years.
Far older than every one of the neighboring trees
Standing taller than many, all take notice and see
The prized King of Walnut Woods reigns today
Calling him Mister Sycamore, his subjects say
With branches elevating up towards the sky
Measuring his girth, takes many hands to try
Visitors pause to salute nature’s monarch
Standing in reverence as park’s landmark
The Woods change from season to season
Watching over all, is the King’s main reason
He holds on to his leaves longer in fall
Guarding the land in winter, always tall
His leaves take some time to fill out in spring
Providing ample shade in summer is his thing
His expansive canopy of branches spreads wide
Peeling off sections of bark, creates whitish sides
His heir, the Prince, waiting in the wings
Rising lean and tall by a creek, he sings
Farther away, a thick grove of younger ones wait
Dreaming who will grow to be the tallest, so great
Mister Sycamore loves many Bible stories
Lifting Jesus up in total and brilliant glory
The story of Zacchaeus climbing a Sycamore tree
Being much too short for Jesus to find, there he be
Ohio’s biggest recorded tree is an American sycamore found in Ashland County near Jeromesville. The tree is at least 200 years old, stands 88 feet tall, and measures 326 inches around its circumference.
Originally published September, 2019.
Quiet brook bubbling
Thicket hides every gurgle—
Single deer’s safe path
One more tree in sight
Scampering along tall fence—
Squirrel’s morning trail
Freshly seeded fields
Geometry’s straightest lines—
Farmer’s precision
Big Sky Buckeye 