Monday Memories: Nature’s Endless Song

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.

Changing Melodies (Haiku Series #288)

Serenity’s Place

Window’s morning view

Feeling pull of forest’s tune—

Heart breathes harmony

Photo by UMUT DAu011eLI on Pexels.com

Infinity’s View

Sunset’s gentle breeze

Turning heavenly pages—

Endless horizons

Photo by Tembela Bohle on Pexels.com

Kaleidoscope’s Captures

Summer soon fading

Waiting for autumn’s return—

Filling with color

Photo by Luke Seago on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Ridgetop Treasure

From above the ground, a trellis provides a fertile place for grapes to grow.

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 

A young deer finds the tender grass to her liking.

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

Apples ripen in the warm summer sun.

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.

Seasonal Changes (Haiku Series #271)

Transition’s Hint

Winter’s shadow fades

Morning air sharing warm smiles—

Spring readies comeback

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Timely Vacancy

Tree’s empty bird nest

Waiting for newest tenant—

Turning spring’s fresh page

Photo by Shannon Deans on Pexels.com

Ground Awakens

Bravest, greenest shoots

Breaking through quiet landscape—

Spring says, “I’m coming”

Photo by Gelgas Airlangga on Pexels.com

Cherished Experiences (Haiku Series #269)

Perspective

Tranquility’s place

Discovery fulfills wait—

Searching each season

Photo by Arthur Brognoli on Pexels.com

Reflective

Mountains to valleys

Windy voice gathers to speak—

Breath of the Spirit

Photo by Oziel Gu00f3mez on Pexels.com

Instinctive

Mysteries hiding

Nightly slumber awakens—

Sunrise uncovers

Photo by Oleksandr P on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Days Grow Longer

gray small bird on green leaves

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

red purple and yellow tulip fields

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Originally published April, 2020.

Monday Memories: Harmony in Creation

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).

clouds

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

time lapse photo of water falls in the forest

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.

Returning to Morning

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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

 

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Autumn’s Rainbow

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Autumn’s faithful gateway

Crisp mornings rolling out

Season’s changing screenplay

Brilliant colors now shout

 

Kaleidoscope of tints

Autumn’s happy exchange

Day’s colorful blueprint

Fallen leaves to arrange

 

Summer’s heat fades away

Winter patiently parks

Autumn’s vibrant bouquet

Each color-filled trademark

 

More gentle days ahead

How quickly they will go

Each vivid, glossy spread

Autumn’s colored chateau

 

Few more colors glowing

Nature quiets her pace

Autumn’s rainbow slowing

Full of Creator’s grace

 

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River’s View

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From high mountaintop

Searching life below

Fertile forest rests

Winding river knows

 

Small village stirring

Resting beneath high peaks

River’s magic breathes

Feeding from small creeks

 

Season’s transition

Waiting for winter’s rest

Valley’s colors burst

Painting autumn’s quest

 

Quiet solitude

Singing with every breeze

Sunset to sunrise

Feeling river’s tease

 

River’s view steadies

Passing from year to year

Always welcoming

Flowing crystal clear

 

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