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

For You

For You

Do you remember our first kiss,

Do you remember our first promise,

Do you remember our first apartment,

One bedroom,

Two hearts,

Three children,

More than a hundred seasons in love,

Spring, summer, fall and winters,

Come and go,

But, love is constant,

Love grows,

Love deepens,

In all of it the same girl remains,

Grownup,

Mature,

Wise,

Yes,

But, the same,

The twinkling eyes,

The bright smile,

And, that thing,

That indefinable thing,

That draws me every second of everyday,

To you,

You’ve got me,

You’ve got me, girl!

Thank God,

For you!

Peter Lowell Paulson

March 16, 2017

Been watching This is Us series together. It takes you back to the beginning. Highly recommend it. (Watch it from the beginning)

Mom, On Her Birthday

Mom, On Her Birthday

Heaven not so far away,

I see your smile,

I hear your laughter,

I still sense your tears when I’ve been bad,

That’s not so bad,

It always told me you loved me,

Because you rarely ever cried,

No, you took me in hand,

By listening,

I remember the days you told me to skip school,

Because you wanted to spend some time with me,

Only me,

We sat at the kitchen table,

We talked,

We chatted (there is a difference),

We laughed out loud,

I was your poet, and actor,

You went to every one of my plays,

You took me into the city to see Second City Theater,

We went downtown to see the movies,

Peter O’Toole, Katherine Hepburn, Jason Robards,

You were discerning,

You loved art,

You taught me the love of art,

We had different politics,

We would scream at each other,

(We had a loud family),

But, we loved each other,

I love you, Mom,

Heaven not so far away,

You’re smiling now,

You probably see my tears,

I love you, Mom!

Peter Lowell Paulson

March 11, 2017

Dedicated to Vina Violet (nee Penn) Paulson who would have been 90 years old today