These have I loved:
my father’s voice
deep as a cavern inside
his chest as I pressed my ear to his heart;
my mother’s touch – gentle and cool –
but safe and so warm in her arms;
my husband’s hands, calloused
and bent, large and kind
holding my heart, my world;
white and black piano keys, so plain
and straight, with strings that stir
my mind to wander in magical places;
the growl of the blue boat motor, pulling
my dear ones on the water, their delight
echoing across the lake;
the lake, the backdrop to our lives,
with its blue beauty,
peace and tranquility;
the precious weight of each child
and grandchild in my arms, and
the joy in watching them become;
the whisper of God in my ear
telling me He will never leave me;
the majesty of the sky and the
unknowable beyond;
all these have been my loves

picture by Lisa Paul

Copyright ©2026 Lisa Paul. All rights reserved.

Poetics: The Great Lover