Larger than life
he lived here,
smaller than death
he lies
under the spreading oak trees,
under the skies.

If mercy is for sinners,
(which God
in mercy gives)
smaller than Life
he lived here,
larger than death
he lives.

Time to Adore

And when I die I hope my soul ascends slowly
So that I may watch the earth receding out of sight
Its vastness growing smaller as I rise
Savoring its recession with delight
Anticipating joy is itself a joy
And joy unspeakable and full of glory
Needs more than in a twinkling of an eye
More than in a moment
Lord, who am I to disagree?
It's only we have much to leave behind,
So much before.
These moments of transition will,
For me, be
Time to adore.

When My Fall Comes

When my Fall comes
I wonder
Will I feel
as I feel now?
glutted with happy memories,
content
to let them lie
like nuts
stored up against the coming cold?
Squirrels always gather
so I'm told
more than they will ever need;
and so have I.

Will the dry,
bitter smell of Fall,
the glory of the
dying leaves,
the last brave rose against the wall,
fill me with quiet ecstasy
as they do now?

Will my thoughts turn
without regret,
to the warm comforts
Winter brings
of hearth fires,
books,
and inner things
and find them nicer yet?