Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

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.**

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**

Bewitching Storm

Posted on February 10, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Nasty winter gale approaching

Forecast broadcasting storm warning

Heavy snow, high winds, Arctic cold

Village alarms sound by morning

Life transcends to total frenzy

Salt trucks loaded, very much ready

Snow plow crews set for night’s work

Village life scrambling, unsteady

Packed grocery stores in chaos

Hurried, panic-filled shopping carts

Shelves urgently growing empty

Village pace quickens beating hearts

Students anticipate closings

Looking forward, lazy “Snow Day”

No classes, no books, no lessons

Village hunkers down, people pray

Winter storm “Tabitha” churning

Pondering, bewitching blizzard

Overnight fury passes on

Village eluding storm’s wizard

The Weather Channel has been naming winter storms in America since 2012-2013. You may have picked up the connection between the “bewitching” blizzard and the name of the storm “Tabitha.” Tabitha is one of the available winter storm names for the 2020-2021 winter. Tabitha is also the daughter of Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) on the successful American sitcom “Bewitched” from 1964-1972.

Haunting Storm

Posted on January 28, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Pleasant, mid-winter day

Warm winds decide to stay

Touch of spring thaws the air

Ideal life, not a care

Hidden, in frigid North

Cold destined to call forth

Prairie living unaware

Grass uncovered, and bare

Few cowboys work the range

Life will soon see big change

Barren land, overgrazed

Cattle wander, unfazed

Calmness warns of trouble

Winter’s wrath comes double

Arctic-fed winds stir up

Wet snow creates pileup

Haunting storm now arrives

Few cattle will survive

Blizzard smothers this land

Conditions, out of hand

Cowboys wait out fierce storm

Snow and cold, nasty swarm

Waiting, hours become days

Prairie, now winter’s maze

Cattle’s cries go unheard

Snow-blinded, vision blurred

Storm’s cruel hand, plays its cards

Life stops, prairie graveyards

**Montana artist Charles M. Russell captures the shattered blow of winter’s fury in “Waiting for a Chinook” (“Last of Five Thousand”) as depicted in this watercolor. (Courtesy of Pinterest**)

This poem attempts to capture the daunting winter of 1886-1887 on the prairies in the Montana Territory when the Open Range’s cattle industry collapsed from its near annihilation. Russell’s artwork says even more than words can describe.

Winter’s Repose

Posted on January 20, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

**Photo by Luca Chiandoni on Pexels.com**

Winter’s white blanket covers frozen land

Sheltering nature’s glory until spring

Arctic-fed winds seem to blow from glaciers

Sleeping quietly, life conceals its zing

Northernmost Great Lakes transform skies to gray

Flying above, geese enjoy winter’s fling

Small ponds reflect from thick, icy mirrors

Pausing all around, boldness waits for spring

Ancient trees appear to wait in repose

Ignoring life’s deep freeze, buds holding out

Nature’s winter rest, preparing for spring

Arriving tonight, snowstorm’s final shout

Never to worry, winter fades away

Coming on schedule, spring colors each day

**Photo by Matthias Cooper on Pexels.com**

Winter’s Slumber

Posted on December 3, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

**Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com**

Winter’s slumber takes hold

Life rests from freezing cold

Living on the vast plains

God’s hand guides, holds the reins

Barren trees wait and watch

Fresh snow paints whitest swatch

Rhythm of life exhales

Time waits for springtime’s trails

North winds blow, chill the land

Hollow sounds, winter’s band

Cattle ask for more feed

Ranchers care for their needs

Clear, sunny skies pretend

Sly, cold temps now transcend

Daily routines slow down

More time to spend in town

Chinook winds warm the land

Snug tease, then cold expands

Quietness covers farms

Planting waits for spring’s charms

Neighbors check-in each day

Ready to help and pray

**Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com**

Most of my years of teaching in Montana were in small towns, surrounded by a community of farms and ranches. Life during the wintertime was challenging, but the close-knit people looked out for each other.

Timeless Transformation

Posted on December 2, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

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

Winter’s first flurry arrives

Transforming autumn’s landscape

Covering like comfy quilts

Dreams look for snowy escape

Storm’s artwork witnesses joy

Taking hearts to a past place

Gazing back to youthful times

Snowflakes remove autumn’s trace

Quiet, tranquil peace whispers

Hearing the timeless calling

Feeling light breezes breathing

Nature moves, never stalling

Time bends with changing seasons

Opening fresh, new page

Witnessing transformation

Life’s Director stands offstage

**Photo by Adriaan Greyling on Pexels.com**

Central Ohio received its first snowfall of the winter on the night of November 30. The transforming seasons always remind me of how our Lord transforms our lives, faith, and hope. May His grace and peace lead you on your journey.

Endless Images (Haiku Series #108)

Posted on November 20, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Departing

Precious moments live

One fallen leaf at a time—

Autumn passes by

Waiting

Barren and quiet

Sleeping during winter’s cold—

Trees rest, chilling out

Comforting

Heavy, humid air

Wind wringing out the water—

Pleasantness arrives

Winter’s Playfulness

Posted on October 31, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Quiet autumn afternoon croons

Turning crystal white much too soon

Tree’s colorful, festive heart breaks

Collecting endless white snowflakes

Guarded weather forecast tonight

Predicting quickest shot of white

Overnight, all signals splinter

Transforming autumn into winter

Morning arrives, sharing delight

Witnessing a land, white and bright

Massive neighborhood tree now frowns

Missing some branches, crashing down

Silence broken, machines at play

Blowing heavy, wet snow away

Others working as busy bees

Shoveling sidewalk paths, now free

Laughter punctuates winter’s air

Watching children, playing in pairs

City avenues filling with cars

Sliding and crashing, near and far

Winter’s sense of humor snowballs

Spoiling autumn’s last curtain call

But wait, a few days down the road

Coming back, fall’s last episode

Days numbered, autumn’s final turn

Waiting for winter’s cold return

**Photo by Victoria Borodinova on Pexels.com**

Nature’s Trademarks (Elfchen Series #31)

Posted on October 16, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Concert

Wind

Blowing chimes

Hearing musical notes

Nature’s symphony plays again

Flawlessly

Anticipation

Forest

Autumn’s arrival

Colorful landscape beckons

Cascading leaves quickly flee

Transformation

**Photo by Harrison Haines on Pexels.com**

Waking Up

Wintertime

Skiers delight

Let it snow!

Mountaintop covered powder white

Paradise

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Departing

Waiting

Comforting

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Concert

Anticipation

Waking Up

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