Autumn's Edge

Autumn’s Edge


A single wasp hovering

Ladybugs covering

Lightening bugs glowing

Above heathered hedge.



A single rose showing

Chrysanthemums growing

Impatiens fair dying

Near ponds silvered sedge.



A single crow crying

Geese southward are flying

The sparrows all gather

Approach autumn’s edge.


Peter Lowell Paulson

September 22, 2010

My Brother, Mark

My Brother, Mark

How long it takes to shape a mind and form a soul as you

And proffer the true essence what this life can truly be,

True friend; my sister’s brother lives so far out by the sea,

He lives to find what richness that its land may bring to view.

I truly know your heart and soul as youth can only do,

We roamed the streets unburdened laughed for we were young and free,

That chain of bonded kinship in my mind will always be,

With decades past until my dyeing day a friendship true.

So brother read the classics and attend the symphony

And all that you experience out in that distant land

For all its blended beauty is but favored company,

And as we watch the hour glass pour every grain of sand,

Share all the songs, stories and dreams in this life’s harmony.


Peter Lowell Paulson

September 21, 2010

Sonnet I

Sonnet I

I’ve yearned within this life that I could be,

Consumed within loves ever burning fire,

And rapt by flaming fingers of desire,

And hold that burning soul so close to me.

I walked into the garden there was she,

A meeting I approached her to inquire,

A table close for tea so to retire,

Her eyes that smile what wonders I could see.

And slow she swayed bare footed on the lawn,

In flowing dress as blue as azure sky,

And then she runs as a young deer she’s gone,

She’s put me to a test I know that I,

Must not pursue today for as a fawn,

This trusted hart will win her by and by.

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 19, 2010

Your Lighthouse

Your lighthouse tall and beaming bright,

The only port I sense tonight,

"And you, my dear, before I go,

Beyond blue breakers may you know-

That all my heart is meant for you",

I said; you turned and then withdrew,

That hand I touched; you walked away,

And said to me, “Don’t sail today,”


You know this is the final tour,

Just see me off; I'll be secure,

Or walk out by the lighthouse rail,

As home to you my ship I sail.


If you must go I will not wave

My brother doomed to ocean grave,

That day his lady came to pier,

Bad omens these, men disappear.

Upon the high seas rough winds roared,

It tossed our ship and shook each board,

But they held tight until we saw,

The rocks before your harbor draw.

I screamed to every man below,

"I see her from the lighthouse glow,"

That silhouette it's you, it's you,

You do love me, you do, you do.

Your lighthouse beam on moonless night,

Your harbor safe was in our sight,

The rudder broke the ship and we,

Were once at mercy of the sea.

The ship exploded on that shore,

A thousand shards on ocean floor,

A body on the beach lies still,

The morning light begins to fill-

Your eyes as down the strand you run,

to see the ruin in blazing sun,

My image seen on rocky land,

On knee you reach to take my hand.

You kiss my lips I open eyes,

We start to laugh, and in surprise,

We grab each other close; embrace,

Once more I touch your hand and face.

And evermore we see that day,

As aged we walk out to the bay,

Your silhouette by lighthouse drew,

Me from the ocean back to you.

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 16, 2010

A Child Once More

She looks at your face,

And then at the floor,

Dear Mother of mine,

A child once more.

This chair holds her still,

With pillows around,

She’ll look in your eyes,

And won’t make a sound.

Each night I must go,

And brush her fine hair,

As I start to converse about,

All family fare.

Then I touch her arm,

And hold the thin hand,

She’ll gaze at the stone,

In her wedding band.

I cherish each moment,

that I can just share,

These times with my mother,

And show that I care.

She raises her head,

And catches my eye,

I say that, “I love you.”

And kiss her goodbye.

These difficult times-

Are but only an end,

To prove that true love,

Will always transcend.

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 14, 2010

The Rain is Lightly Falling

The rain is lightly falling on the earthen floor below,

Our baby in its crib on downy pillow slumbers so.

I reach out to this bride of mine and stroke the flaxen curl,

I love this charming woman who was once my youthful girl.

And tenderly she takes my hand in hers to make secure,

This love she feels and yearns for every fiber to endure.

I took her to this far off land to wilderness out where,

To strike out what a man must claim a living and his share.

Our dreams they always were aligned and true love seems to be,

The driving force that keeps us close together; living free.

We know not what the future holds but this we always knew.

That we would stand together in this life and see it through.

We hold each other close; I kiss her lips so tender fair,

I gaze into her dark brown eyes and caress that flaxen hair.

“There’s nothing more that life could give to me”, I whisper low,

“Than you my lovely lady, and our babe that slumbers so.”

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 11, 2010

Going to the Well

I met a lovely woman once when going to the well,

She went to draw her water and she had a tale to tell.

Yes, she was married; had a spouse who beat her every day,

His words her very ‘soul’ he’d scar in scores upon her way.

He said he loved her early on when she was just a maid.

And with kind words he wooed her in their walks along the glade.

I told her ‘bout the words of God that she might like to hear.

That binds the wound, and heals the soul and dries the fallen tear.

She asked me how I came to know about these words of God.

I told her that I’ve borne her pain upon the road I’d trod.

A choice is laid before you now, and so to let it in,

You have to trust and ope’ the door for true joy to begin.

She said I am afraid for everything I trust has failed,

For in the past the promises I’ve heard have only paled.

This is one thing that you must do, and you must take this stand,

One thing I guarantee I’ll do, we can walk hand in hand.

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 10, 2010