My All to Thee

My All to Thee

Where is our God of heav’n rewards,

To single child or teaming hordes,

We all know pain if great or small,

True suffering is known to all.

Yet, if a father carries child,

Through every danger in the wild,

And, with a carriage strolls the kid,

Produces her an invalid.

It is a grandfather we yearn,

To coddle through life’s toughest turn,

With each request we want him bless,

A constant, softened breathless, “Yes”!

The world has joy, but also stain,

The constant thing I learn with pain,

The greatest hope I have for me,

Is when I give my all to Thee!

Peter Lowell Paulson

March 23, 2018

The Cold (I'm Sick)

The Cold (I’m Sick)

I haven’t had a cold in years, of this there is no doubt,

I wish someone would come along and simply knock me out,

The drippy, sneezy, sore throat thing which has me in its grip,

So I will make a special tool to slide inside and rip.

I’d rip out every tickle that develops into cough,

And, every spot that forms a drip which makes my nose a trough,

I’d rip out all the cobwebs which are cluttering my head,

And, all the irritation in my chest I rather dread.

My wife has banished me to basement oh so far away,

The cats and I curl on the couch in symbiosis lay,

I cough, and sneeze and carry on; the cats don’t even stir,

I think they turn the volume up with each and every purr.

With all the ills that mankind has it could be far much worse,

Yet, it is still a nuisance that I’ll call a ‘minor curse’,

I know that I am really blessed for all God does provide,

And, while this ‘thorn’ is passing through I’m glad He’s by my side!

Peter Lowell Paulson

March 22, 2018

  

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom

Typical son,

Two days late to say,

Happy Birthday Mom,

In Heaven many years,

But, alive,

Watching,

Smiling,

Always smiling,

Giggling,

Laughing still,

A memory haunts me,

Dad pulled me aside,

“Mom said that she saw Jesus in the room”,

“A shadow, tall in the corner”,

“Jesus she said”,

“It frightens me”,

“What do you think it means?”

I said,

“I think she feels the presence of Jesus”

“Let’s pray, Dad”

He (being a minister who always prayed for family events) said,

“You pray”,

I did,

We hugged,

She died two weeks later,

Alive still,

Better than before,

With Jesus!

I know she’s smiling,

As I pen the poem,

Knowing the words,

Even before they are on paper,

I love you Mom!

Two days late for your birthday,

But,

I love you every day!

Peter Lowell Paulson

March 13, 2018

In Memory of Vina Violet (Penn) Paulson

Music Music Music

Music Music Music

Oh, Music always raises me whenever I am down,

Especially when there’s squabbling or friends aren’t coming roun’,

Of course the Lord is close right now; He’s here in everything,

I wasn’t given talent here I and yet I dance and sing!

I thank the Lord for all of it; each joy or painful toll,

Thank God he gave us music for it reaches inner soul,

It rarely matters what it is; the genre or the mix,

I change the channel all the time; each one can find a fix.

Well, it could be a country song with something ‘bout a girl,

It makes me want to grab my babe as ‘cross the floor we twirl,

Or on a gray and rainy day I put on soulful blues,

My life is so much better than these guys who have no clues.

Yes, kiddie songs and marching tunes can make the spirit fly,

I’m with the swoon of trumpeters as marching I go by,

The symphonies and rock & rock; each string and drumming beat,

My spirit’s lifted up in spheres of heaven where they meet.

Yet unsurpassed, my wife will play the spinet in the hall,

A nocturne or some Christmas song; Yes, it is best of all,

It takes me back to younger days when we were just as kids,

And, placing rings on fingers then, and making our life bids.

Oh, Music always raises me whenever I am down,

It quells; it quiets royally and gives each day a crown!

Peter Lowell Paulson

March 1, 2018

Edge of Night

Edge of Night

Edge of night,

Edge of dawn,

Cannot sleep,

Wonderlands of day dreams,

Day dreams,

Yes,

Floating,

Flickering about,

Fleeing,

As quickly here,

And, quickly gone,

Not anxious,

Only anticipatory,

What will the day bring,

I set my mind on all things,

Positive,

Possibility,

Potential,

Power to be,

Strong for those who are weak,

Caring for those in need,

Loving for those who need loving,

God help me to be,

Strong

Caring,

Loving,

Oh, look,

I sense the sun,

Rising!

Yeah!

Peter Lowell Paulson

February 17, 2018

Grace upon Grace

Grace upon Grace

Oh fallen one, Oh fallen I,

We hear a thousand voices cry,

Just follow me descended man,

And, keep your pace as best you can.

In jungles rich with half-baked truth,

I search for honesty forsooth,

Until all broken bent on knee,

I cry, “Dear Lord, O please save me!”

“Then, not my will, but Yours be done,”

I sense the face of Your dear Son,

Now, filled with God’s grace from within,

Find joy in my forgiven sin.

More twenty years your grace I’ve known,

Serenest peace which ne’er has flown,

It gives me strength each day to live,

Within your will my life to give!

Peter Lowell Paulson

February 17, 2018