Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Monday Memories: Under the Big Sky

Posted on August 18, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

**Looking westward toward southwestern Montana’s Tobacco Root Mountains, with the Madison River flowing through the valley below.**

God’s creation under the Big Sky

Treasured landscape covers this vast land

Immense prairies flow into mountains

Few places on earth looking this grand

Rugged backbone of the continent

Chiseled spine of the Rocky Mountains

Stray mountain ranges dotting the plains

Cascading streams flowing as fountains

Three distinct rivers form its headwaters

Mighty, boundless Missouri River

Eastward, collecting the Yellowstone

Precious mountain rains move downriver

White-tail and mule deer camp in thickets

Pronghorns graze in the midst of grasslands

Mountain valleys gather elk and bears

Ducks and geese pilot into wetlands

Frequently titled the Treasure State

Montana shines under its Big Sky

People flocking to witness its gems

You just might meet a Buckeye nearby

**Montana’s Yellowstone River continues its eastward journey, eventually flowing into the Missouri River.**

I could probably write something about my native state of Montana every day. It will always be a very special place to me. Watch out, you just might run into a Buckeye returning to the Big Sky.

Originally published December, 2020.

Monday Memories: Sunrise to Sunset

Posted on November 25, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie

Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery

Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early

Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly

This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay

Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day

With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales

Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails

Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite

Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights

Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now

Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows

Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then

Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben

About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home

Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam

Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now

Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow

Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun

Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done

**Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com**

Originally published August, 2020.

Endless Grassy Sea

Posted on February 8, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Virgin prairie

Endless grassy sea

Fertile, untouched

Living always free

Nature’s preserve

Blessed grassy sea

Native people

Worship what they see

Gift forever

Treasured grassy sea

Timeless, precious

Mother Earth agrees

Standing knee high

Faithful grassy sea

Glory days sing

Praises fill with glee

Man’s encroachment

Constant grassy sea

Days now numbered

Earth makes her plea

Plowing under

Cherished grassy sea

Another farm

Way of life now flees

Forever gone

Priceless grassy sea

Winds of time change

What should always be

Pockets remain

Endless grassy sea

Memories breathe

Yesterday foresees

**Remnants of the original American prairie can be found in places such as the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in Oklahoma. (Courtesy of Pinterest)**

Returning Home

Posted on May 12, 2022 by bigskybuckeye

Retreating from urban scene

Tasting sweetest land of peace

Montana’s scenic prairie

Rejuvenating new lease

Returning home at long last

Embracing much simpler ways

Montana’s dry farming life

Waking to morning’s fresh praise

Laboring in nature’s soil

Farming begins at sunrise

Montana’s fields now planted

Waiting for harvest’s lush prize

Walking in tall grass so green

Unearthing life’s inner core

Montana’s rural anthem

Fielding life’s daily chores

**Photo by Magdalena Krekels on Pexels.com**

Under the Big Sky

Posted on December 10, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

God’s creation under the Big Sky

Treasured landscape covers this vast land

Immense prairies flow into mountains

Few places on earth looking this grand

Rugged backbone of the continent

Chiseled spine of the Rocky Mountains

Stray mountain ranges dotting the plains

Cascading streams flowing as fountains

Three distinct rivers form its headwaters

Mighty, boundless Missouri River

Eastward, collecting the Yellowstone

Precious mountain rains move downriver

White-tail and mule deer camp in thickets

Pronghorns graze in the midst of grasslands

Mountain valleys gather elk and bears

Ducks and geese pilot into wetlands

Frequently titled the Treasure State

Montana shines under its Big Sky

People flocking to witness its gems

You just might meet a Buckeye nearby

I could probably write something about my native state of Montana every day. It will always be a very special place to me. Watch out, you just might run into a Buckeye returning to the Big Sky.

Sunrise to Sunset

Posted on August 12, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie

Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery

Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early

Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly

This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay

Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day

With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales

Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails

Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite

Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights

Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now

Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows

Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then

Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben

About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home

Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam

Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now

Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow

Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun

Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done

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