Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Spring’s Hiatus

Posted on April 21, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

**Beautiful spring afternoon in central Ohio.**

Delightful spring day

Soon approaching May

Open window’s view

Life’s freshness streams through

Everything alive

Nature’s best arrives

Birds fill nearby tree

Songs tweeting with glee

Virginia bluebells

Blooming, much to tell

Squirrels all about

Springtime’s early scout

Tree canopy swells

Leaves cast greenest spells

Geese gather in pairs

Nesting with love’s care

Smelling fresh-mown grass

Yards looking first-class

Sometimes nature blinks

At times, summer winks

Time to plant gardens

But, beg your pardon!

Overnight, snow calls

Spring’s waltz quickly stalls

Home furnace heats up

Winter stirs mix-up

Spring’s hiatus brings

Snowflakes’ final sting

Treasured Moments (Haiku Series #131)

Posted on April 20, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Finally!

Morning awakens

Cloudless, sunny, biggest sky—

Spring brings refreshment

Majestic

Calming, windless day

Journey skyward toward heavens—

Giant trees stand silent

**Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com**

Adventure

Bubbling whitewater

Creeks and rivers, energized—

Mountain snow melt flows

Nourishing Spirit

Posted on March 27, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Nature lives forever

By her Creator’s hand

Nourishing spirit guides

Sunrise greeting each day

Life revolves ‘round her grace

Lighting earthly journey

Gentle winds bring comfort

Music from nature’s band

Breathing with its rhythm

Grassy plains stretching far

Lofty mountains border

Sharing abounding life

Beauty arrives by air

Birds of many colors

Singing nature’s chorus

Majestic trees arise

Redwoods reaching heavens

Scaling fate’s boldest heights

Creator’s view from clouds

Seeing creatures below

Serving nature’s purpose

Rivers ever flowing

Dogged spirit guiding

Reaching each shining sea

God’s time always endures

Creation spawns nature

Breathing, living, endless

**Photo by Lukas Kloeppel on Pexels.com**

Signs of Spring (Haiku Series #126)

Posted on March 16, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Anticipating

Warmer days ahead

Tree buds filling with new life—

Spring waiting on deck

**Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com**

Growing

Frigid soil warms up

Transformation taking place—

First green shoots of spring

**Photo by jonas mohamadi on Pexels.com**

Arriving

Crafting welcome signs

Daffodils make announcement—

Spring now official

**Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina on Pexels.com**

Warm Breezes

Posted on March 13, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

**A view of Long Wharf along the Choptank River at Cambridge, Maryland. Chesapeake Bay is waiting on the horizon. (photo courtesy of Pinterest)**

Early morning’s reversing wind

No longer facing fierce headwind

Life takes comfort in day ahead

Thrilled to be awake, out of bed

Skipjack sailing away from home

Leaving Choptank’s berth, free to roam

Adventure waiting, take it on

Facing nature, ready with brawn

Pride of Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Nathan of Dorchester explores

With summer day’s life-giving breeze

She skims across these waves with ease

Distant river shoreline fading

Chesapeake Bay, now invading

Each crew member tackles his tasks

Loving this boat, each effort basks

With warm breezes, life’s sails now fill

Each port of call, sharing goodwill

**A skipjack cuts through the water on the Choptank River. It is the official boat of the state of Maryland. (photo courtesy of Pinterest)**

The inspiration for this poem comes from my travels to Maryland’s Eastern Shore along the Choptank River at Cambridge. While I haven’t sailed on the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester (yet), it is something I would enjoy experiencing during a future summer trip back to my wife’s hometown.

Winter’s Final Walk

Posted on March 10, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

This poem is written in a traditional sonnet style with 14 lines, and each line contains 10 syllables. I was fortunate to witness this park one day before the rising temperatures would begin transforming the park from its winter look.

**Sycamore trees lose some of their bark over time. The whitest branches truly glisten in the winter sunlight.**

Invitation from warmer winter day

Insisting on afternoon nature hike

Snowy Walnut Woods, waiting with sunshine

Feeling welcome, childlike emotions strike

Deep snow lining each trail, bright white border

Dressing in cozy layers, feeling warm

Park’s newest treasures, eager to explore

Thankful for winter’s freedom from snowstorms

Ancient sycamore tree branches glisten

Discovering cross-country skiers’ trail

Beaver dam holds back frozen Big Run creek

Precious winter moments bless, without fail

Looming big thaw will erase winter’s scene

Memories filling life’s unending screen

**A wintertime beaver dam backs up the frozen Big Run. It might not survive the spring runoff.**

Spring Calls

Posted on March 3, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

**Winter’s snow blankets central Ohio’s Walnut Woods Metro Park.**

Winds no longer blow

From cold Arctic ice

Snow stays far to north

Winter pays her price

Days growing longer

Nature now smiling

Winter’s time shall pass

Spring begins dialing

Nature’s busy tone

Some days, springtime halts

Hibernation plays

Winter’s final waltz

Trees wait with patience

Soon nature will green

Sun replacing clouds

Spring’s finest cuisine

Seasons come and go

Nature makes her call

Time for winter’s end

Spring’s voice now enthralls

**Early spring flowers brighten the landscape at central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.**

Monday’s Memories: Gentle Sounds

Posted on February 15, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

**Photo by Brianna Martinez 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

**Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com**

Winter’s Tranquility

Posted on February 13, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Winter’s tranquility

Landscape sleeps, quiet time

Stillness fills snow-chilled air

Nature pausing, in rhyme

Snowflake-covered prairie

Farmers’ fields taking rest

Cold freezes idle land

Always dressed in whitest vest

Russian olive trees rise

Steady breeze, branches sway

Magpies call this their home

Nature wanting to play

Nearby ranches, life slows

Cattle feeding on hay

Days shorter, nights longer

Winter’s cozy chalets

Season of rest, spring waits

Snow-filled humility

Nature takes its respite

Winter’s tranquility

**Photo by Frans Van Heerden on Pexels.com**

Love Never Dims

Posted on February 11, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

**Photo by Kelsey Johnson on Pexels.com**

Winter’s snow, cannot hide

Cherished love, deep inside

During darkness of night

Her love shines, always bright

Spring’s blossoms, love shares

Life’s newness, always cares

Nature wakens, each land

Her splendor, in God’s hands

Summer’s glowing spirit

Longing to walk near it

Love growing, day by day

Her grandeur comes this way

Autumn’s colored venue

Love fills each day’s menu

Landscape treasures each thrill

Her warmth hides winter’s chill

Seasons, patient with time

Faith grows, ever in rhyme

Righteous gifts, sing as hymns

Father’s love, never dims

**Photo by uae40 ub300uc815 on Pexels.com**

From Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

Share this:

Finally!

Majestic

Adventure

Share this:

Share this:

Anticipating

Growing

Arriving

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: