New season dawning
Reaching out for change
Darkness now leaving
Feeling fresh exchange
Transitions welcome
Embracing hope’s light
Every new blessing
Welcoming headlights
Tomorrow waiting
Catching future’s scent
Morning shares rebirth
Gathering ascent
New landscape ahead
Moving from home base
Confidence growing
Walking with bold pace
This season finished
Looking for next one
Each day holds promise
Enjoying life’s run
Every precious leaf
Cascading autumn colors—
Unparalleled joy
Morning’s early light
Leaves showcase matchless colors–
Autumn landscape’s breath
Winter soon to come
Leafy colors set to twirl—
Autumn always falls
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.
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
From a ridgetop garden
Nature’s treasure hides out
Offering its harvest
Flora lives all about
Flowers blooming early
Winter now disappears
Colorful bouquets reign
Sweetest fragrances cheer
Warming springtime sunshine
Changes the ground cover
New, tender shoots of grass
Young deer will discover
Trellis roof shelters grapes
Ripen in summer’s sun
Fill with juicy flavor
Birds enjoy tasty fun
Apple and black walnut trees
Shading nature’s grand shrine
Fruit dropping to the ground
Squirrels and deer will dine
Former home site lives on
Garden paradise waits
Coming alive each spring
Winking back at its mates
All of the photographs were taken during a couple of recent morning walk at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is just minutes away from Canal Winchester, Ohio. The hilltop garden remains long after the house (built in the 1930s) was abandoned. I was blessed to spend several minutes photographing a very cooperative deer while I was quietly standing near a tree.
Originally published July, 2020.
Winter’s shadow fades
Morning air sharing warm smiles—
Spring readies comeback
Tree’s empty bird nest
Waiting for newest tenant—
Turning spring’s fresh page
Bravest, greenest shoots
Breaking through quiet landscape—
Spring says, “I’m coming”
Tranquility’s place
Discovery fulfills wait—
Searching each season
Mountains to valleys
Windy voice gathers to speak—
Breath of the Spirit
Mysteries hiding
Nightly slumber awakens—
Sunrise uncovers
Photo by daniyal ghanavati on Pexels.com
Spring’s foretold migration finally arrives
Chasing away winter’s doldrums at long last
Growing longer, warmer days feeling alive
Returning daily, headliners rejoin cast
With every sunrise tweet, delightful birds sing
Updating winter’s drab wardrobe, trees turn green
Following God’s cue, all creatures here below
Coloring landscape, sweetness paints every scene
Patient gardens blooming, flowers smile again
Waking up from long winter naps, creatures roam
Setting life’s tone, creation’s quiet rhythm
Living in harmony, all feel quite at home
Spring’s joyful feast, nature’s symphony humming
Welcoming fanfare’s savory homecoming
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Originally published April, 2020.
This poem is inspired with Creation’s visions from Psalm 104 (the poem’s first 12 verses), and with a response from the hymn “My Life Flows On in Endless Song” (the poem’s final six verses).
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com
Clothed with Holy majesty and honor
Heavens stretching out to infinity
Our Lord’s masterpiece endures forever
Clouds witness this sacred affinity
Earth’s foundation, never to be shaken
Lofty mountaintops look upon it all
Safe refuge waiting in fertile valleys
Creation’s spirit fulfilling each call
From flowing springs, animals quenching thirst
Every season following moon’s phases
Birds singing praise from highest tree branches
Rising and setting sun painting praises
God’s creation flowing as endless songs
Nothing shall ever shake its inner calm
Echoing across earth’s fruitful valleys
Scaling each mountaintop as joyful Psalms
Creation’s fountain forever springing
Beauty of the Lord’s harmony singing
Photo by Aleksey Kuprikov on Pexels.com
From Colossians 1:16: “For in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
Here is the melody and lyrics to “My Life Flows On in Endless Song”:
Originally published June, 2020.
Season follows season
Stormy seas giving way
Returning to morning
Tranquil waters each day
Autumn’s peaceful colors
Restful days bringing calm
Returning to morning
Gratitude fills each psalm
Winter’s brisk cold arrives
Fireplace warming each heart
Returning to morning
Snowstorm ready to start
Spring’s joy welcomes comeback
Love sharing fresh flowers
Returning to morning
Praises flood each hour
Summer’s playful leisure
Laughter filling each day
Returning to morning
Endless moments won’t stay
Harmony’s creation
Nature writing each verse
Returning to morning
Always time to rehearse
Big Sky Buckeye 