You Teach Me Once Again and Other Poems
by Pat Severin
YOU TEACH ME ONCE AGAIN
Lord, as I stare into your luminescent sky,
its blue expanse envelopes my spirit
and I become as one of your winged creatures,
flying high,
unencumbered with the cares of this world,
gliding one minute,
climbing high in the next,
no place, no goal in mind
merely enraptured with the freedom
of each moment,
blissful in this azure paradise,
ecstatic and euphoric
in my journey to nowhere,
wondering and hoping that this avian dream
can go on forever.
I am at peace here,
quietly pondering your creative genius
for You made these delicate creatures,
bestowed on them
this marvelous gift of flight.
Then—suddenly—
I realize in this moment
that my envy is misplaced
for, though I cannot take flight into the clouds,
I, too, was designed by you,
described as created in your image,
imbued with a plethora
of unique and unequaled gifts,
ones that, perhaps, these creatures
would wish were theirs.
What an incredible opportunity
this was today
to have had this imaginative perspective,
this spiritual flight of fancy,
a marvel in its magnitude.
But, as always, You orchestrated
this transformative adventure.
You, who are everything,
creator of everything,
brought me here
to teach me, yet again,
what it means to be yours,
beautifully and exquisitely made.
A BRAND NEW EARTH
Like those of us who have succumbed,
I found myself complaining
about how time moved way too fast,
left so few years remaining,
but now I see that time’s a gift,
see aging differently.
I’ve gained a new perspective,
as this world I truly see.
The sunsets I let come and go
were often missed because
I had “important things” to do,
and that’s the way it was.
My aromatic garden,
each subtlety of hue,
I thought another dawn would come
when they’d be paid their due.
But as I know tomorrow’s dawn
will not be there forever,
I soak in each resplendent tint,
each nuance now I treasure.
God’s artistry is everywhere,
the green of each new blade,
the scent of fall, the whippoorwill,
this world His hand has made.
Each filmy cloud that billows high
above the azure sky,
the fulgent sunlight, glowing moon,
the stars that make me sigh.
I barely noticed these in youth,
But now I feel their worth
in ways profound,
so deep their touch,
it seems a brand new earth!
PAT SEVERIN
Pat Severin, a retired Christian teacher and member of SCBWI, has been writing poetry for many years. Her poems have been featured in the online magazines The Agape Review, The Clay Jar Review, Pure in Heart Stories, The Way Back to Ourselves, Heart of Flesh Literary Journal, Vessels of Light, and Words of the Lamb. Additionally, they are regularly featured in the Southern Arizona Press Poetry Anthologies.
Pat is also a published contributor to the books, I Chose You, Rescue Dogs and their Humans, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned From My Dog and the upcoming book, When Love Wags a Tale, Inspiring Stories of Love, Loyalty and Laughter coming out in 2024. Her personal ministry is mailing weekly cards of encouragement to those going through life struggles.