Endless, winding path
River’s poetic treasures—
Unique in spirit
Flowing with purpose
River chases horizon—
Map never needed
Night’s curtain rises
River’s peace always on time—
Morning’s stillness breathes
From Luke 1:46-47: “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'”
Advent’s journey
Following Savior’s star
Walking toward Bethlehem
Nurturing hope from afar
Advent’s patience
Sowing fresh seeds of hope
Harvesting heavenly peace
Grasping eternity’s rope
Advent’s witness
Wrapping faith in God’s Word
Waiting for hope to be born
Seeing prophecy unblurred
Advent’s treasures
Rising without fanfare
Revealing Messiah’s hope
Answering every prayer
Advent’s cleansing
Leaving darkness for light
Replacing man’s sins with hope
Raising redemption forthright
Advent’s glory
Sharing from hope above
Bearing world’s ultimate joy
Believing in Father’s love
From Luke 1:54-55: [Mary continues speaking] “‘He has come to the aid of His child Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.'”
The things that matter the most in this world, they can never be held in our hand.
From Matthew 6:29-31: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Gloria Gaither (born 1942) is a Christian singer, songwriter, and speaker. She performed with the Bill Gaither Trio from 1965 to 1991.
Man joined with woman
Sharing love throughout each day—
Breath of daily grace
Sun rises each morn
Togetherness in spirit—
Forever in love
Love’s eternal flame
Burning by day as well as night—
Lifetime’s treasured gift
This poem is dedicated to the many lives which have come and gone along the tracks of the Great Northern Railroad from years ago. Perhaps you can feel the living spirit still riding the Empire Builder passenger train across the Hi-Line of Montana.
Feeling a bit like heaven
Blessed Big Sky, almost home
Paradise spelled as two words
Riding free, spirit’s train roams
Scanning God’s creative touch
Mountains shaped by nature’s hand
Valleys carved out by rivers
Dreaming of this treasured land
Stirring up past memories
Iron horse roaring at top speed
Long ago, been here before
Coming home, spirits now freed
Flashing by Hi-Line’s vast farms
Cropland caresses these tracks
Golden fields of wheat ripen
Waiting for harvest’s comeback
Fading daylight turns to night
Darkness covers Montana’s peace
Town lights twinkle here and there
Thinking back to life’s past lease
Climbing through Marias Pass
Glacier Park saying good-bye
Big Sky’s wonder never fades
Ageless spirit, dropping by
Originally published December, 2020.
Tell me of that Treasure State
Story always new,
Tell of its beauties grand
And its hearts so true.
Mountains of sunset fire
The land I love the best,
Let me grasp the hand of one
From out the golden West.
Written by Charles Cohan, lyrics to “Montana.”
Yes, there’s no place like Montana,
The Big Sky country, my home.
A place to set my spirit free,
A Rocky Mountain melody,
These things are a part of me.
Written by Carleen and LeGrande Harvey, lyrics to “Montana Melody.”
From the words of English novelist and poet, Mary Webb: “Nature’s music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions.”
Creation’s wonders, lasting treasures
Beyond compare, by any measure
God’s unique Spirit molds, creates
Earth living as His domain, first-rate
Forests dazzle with matchless beauty
Witness to our Lord’s sacred duty
Animal species roam, some quite rare
Others appear to be everywhere
Distinctive flowers color the land
Their music soothes, like any jazz band
Unequaled majesty reaching high
Rugged mountains climbing to the sky
Creatures with their eccentric pursuits
Actions showing off, fun attributes
Man taking note of what God has done
High praises, He stands second to One
One and only one master designs
Each day, smiling at His nature shrines
From Genesis 1:29-30: “God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so.”
Originally published October, 2020.
No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness, and generosity hidden in the soul of the child.
The most vital right is the right to love and be loved.
Emma Goldman (1869-1940) was a Lithuanian-born writer and political activist.
Love life day by day, color by color, touch by touch.
Hour by hour, day by day, life becomes possible.
Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) was an American poet.
The photos shown with this poem come from my private collection. They desire to complement each stanza with nature’s voice.
Toes filled with white beach sand
Eastern horizon brightens
Morning’s sunrise glowing
Feeling life’s burdens lighten
Face stings with winter’s cold
Mountain ski run offers thrills
Freshest powder waiting
Energy flowing downhill
Sunset viewed from front porch
Peace adds footnote to this day
Tomorrow always dreams
Thoughts sketching blessed essay
Morning’s wilderness lake
Fisherman’s heart set to cast
Man and nature as one
Sunrise ascends to full mast
Moments with nature’s voice
Thankful for each treasured gift
Every day welcomes home
Spirit no longer adrift
Big Sky Buckeye 