Rainy Days

Rainy Days

Awash in waves of ocean deep,

I sense the cat cross blankets creep,

With gentle paw she taps my nose,

Awakened by the storm she rose.

Aware the raging wind that swells,

Aware the tempest it foretells,

Aware the raining deluge falls,

Aware triumphant Spring who calls.

The cat now curled up near my head,

And, full awake I lay in bed,

Adrift as rain on rooftop plays,

Awash in thoughts of rainy days!

Peter Lowell Paulson

April 27, 2017

What’s Heaven Like

What’s Heaven Like

What’s Heaven like, a mother’s arms,

Or, streets of gold with all its charms,

A quiet stream through grove of trees,

Or, boundless light’s serenities.

An age I’ve lived through captured mind,

Near edges of the known mankind,

Have delved the open space within,

And, tested some of deadly sin.

In all of it the best I’ve found,

Is family’s love which knows no bound,

A wife who loves my inner me,

A Christ who saved me certainly!

Oh, Father God, Creator, Lord,

My trust in you this life’s reward,

I know in life that you’ve loved me,

The same will be eternally!

What’s Heaven like, of this I’m sure,

No pain or sorrow to endure,

United with dear ones above,

And, held within God’s purest love!

Peter Lowell Paulson

April 18, 2017

Sapphire Moon

Sapphire Moon

Amidst mid eve a sapphire moon,

Near cloudless feather dusted sky,

And, I beneath in heartfelt swoon,

Am swept up in a breathless sigh!

Peter Lowell Paulson

April 11, 2017

The Conscientious Objector

The Conscientious Objector

When war consumes a peaceful mind,

And, I a peaceful man in kind,

I told my father, “I object”,

He had me sit with him; Reflect.

My father served in the Great War,

He loaded trains with bombs he bore,

He learned a trade to change his stead,

Became a baker baking bread.

A minister now his reward,

To preach the Word and serve the Lord,

His son now faced the lottery,

New war was his reality.

“If you object that is your right”,

“Not carry weapons or to fight”,

“But, you will face at men’s request”,

“If you could face the certain test.”

“If evil men invade right here,”

“Your mother, brothers shrink in fear”,

“A weapon close and only you”,

“This is the test, what do you do?”

Peter Lowell Paulson

April 7, 2017

Note: Our latest conflict brought this real conversation with my father to mind.

I Will Rejoice

I Will Rejoice

I heard of a loss of my friend today,

Trepidation swept through my soul,

The immediacy of, “Oh, no!”

A myriad comingled memories,

A tearing tearing realization,

The loss of the visible,

Your smile,

Your laughter,

Your words of wisdom,

I wish you well,

I want you back,

I went to your funeral today,

Family and friends,

I saw your smile,

I heard your laughter,

I found your wisdom,

Again,

Not lost at all,

Regained in everyone who loved you,

Restored in the preacher’s words,

Christ faced darkness, too,

But, the end was not an end at all,

Only the beginning,

Beyond all mourning,

Is Easter morning!

If there is loss,

There is also gain,

If there is nighttime,

Then Son will shine on us,

And, you my friend,

Would tell me to rejoice,

So,

I will rejoice!

Peter Lowell Paulson

April 1, 2017

Dedicated to dear departed friends, Edison Cole and Anna Mae Brueggemann