Autumn Sun

Autumn Sun

Tall trees all wrapped in autumn sun,

As angled beams make colors run,

Upon the dewy orange and red,

How spirit’s lifted, filled and fed.

Small waves upon the lake now dance,

Fair mingled with fall's light romance,

They play and bounce; as thousands strong,

All flood my heart with inner song.

As wonder seizes season’s change,

The prism moves to rearrange,

The path now bathed in angled light,

A sensuous, soulful beauty bright!

Peter Lowell Paulson

October 18, 2017

For Hannah

There is no “right” or “good” in "bad”, and it will e'er befall,

True evil always lurks about 'til it affects us all,

Yes, every life will have some pain; there is no place to hide,

The strongest man in calmest sea cannot withhold the tide.

The greatest sorrow we can know is when a child succumbs,

When she is taken from our arms the heart within us numbs,

And, we are left with grief and pain and tears which fill the soul,

With pieces ripped apart, like this, can we be ever whole?

Where is our God, as some may say, when this has taken place,

And, if not God who caused the ill it’s hard to see His face,

Remember, now, that Christ his Son once died upon the cross,

In all of this, God knows full well the meaning of our loss.

He grieves as we; He bears the pain and suffering in our time,

The Source of life can bear us up as up the hill we climb,

He wants the living to reach out to our full sorrowed friend,

To hug and hold, and let them know that this is not the end.

We cannot rush or hurry grief when night is deep and dark,

Yet, life and light illumines still beyond the clouds so stark,

And, joy will come, and hope remains, and love will still the strife,

For none are lost, in Christ alone, we’ll know eternal life!

Peter Lowell Paulson

October 6, 2017

In Memory of Hannah Nance (4 years old), niece of Anthony Paulson and Erin Rogers Paulson, who was recently lost in a house fire in Pocahontas, IL

My Wife is Going on a Trip

My Wife is Going on a Trip

Your wife is going on a trip,

The first “to do” is “get a grip”,

Initial panic in your mind,

With silence in the house you find.

I’ll watch a show on the T.V.,

The one she didn’t want to see,

I’ll put some coffee in a cup,

And ponder freedom; drink it up.

But, what is that I hear right now,

A desperate cat, and her “Meow”,

She needs some food in her cat bowl,

And, water, too; Oh, bless my soul!

And, clean her box, Yes! That’s superb,

Now, walk the garbage to the curb,

I’ll start the laundry; fold what’s dry,

Put those away; at least I’ll try.

A messy bed is now in view,

I’ll fix it so it looks like new,

If she were here, she’d have a fright,

I never get the sheets quite right!

You’re saying now, “But, you are free?”

Except for this guy’s O.C.D.,

My wife will read this poem and quip,

I’m glad to take this little trip!

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 21, 2017

Dear Little One

Dear Little One

Dear little one we rest today,

Too soon to heaven flown away,

Our family stands with this to bear,

Trusting the Lord your loving care.

Our inner hearts, they yearned to know,

Imagined play; the bounce and go,

To lay your tiny baby head,

With comfort in the cradle bed.

But, now we hug our family,

And, share their love and sympathy,

It helps to hear the children play,

It helps our sorrow sift away.

With faith restored in God above,

The strongest arms; secured in love,

And, one day soon to Heav’n we’ll soar,

With you one day forevermore!

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 16, 2017

With love to Erin & Tony and Carsten & McKenna

In memory of Skyler Christine

The Gift of Books

The Gift of Books

I want to thank you for the books,

One, two, three, four; I’ve had some looks,

Although I feel each one’s a “smash”!

I’m very fond of Odgen Nash.

Now, each is special in its way,

The other three are children play,

The nursery rhymes, and cherub tome,

Radio scripts to read at home.

I cannot wait to read awhile,

With grandkids soon, and watch them smile,

You’ve made my day with heartfelt touch,

I love them all; thank you so much!

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 14, 2017

Sent to Linda Anderson who gave me four book because she knew I liked to write poetry!

Wedding Dance

Wedding Dance

A wedding year, how wonderful; three weddings dressed in style,

Three beautiful young daughters held your arm as walked the aisle,

With love, their Mom who raised each one had joyful tear descend,

The vows with which God blessed each bond; no one could ever rend.

The father-daughter dance evokes emotion with each twirl,

A moment etched as you full see your grownup “baby girl”,

You know that she is wed to one who’ll love her for all time,

Your bride and you share with them now this wedding bliss sublime!

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 9, 2017

                         Congratulations, Gretchen and Dan