AS I LINGER ON THE HILL

[MARCIA KOSTERKA]

I wrote this poem many years ago but it is as relevant today as it has always been. It’s message is that life has it’s ups and downs and if we accept the downs as a part of growth, they can’t overshadow the parts of our lives that make us happy.

AS I LINGER ON THE HILL

One day smooth and one day rough.
Why is one day easy and another day tough?
Sometimes happy and sometimes sad.
You’re at least alive and that’s not bad.
As I look down on the valley below,
I’ve been there before and once again I’ll go.
If I raise my hand, will time stand still,
And let me stop and linger on the hill?

Could I close my eyes and enjoy relief,
From all the trouble and all the grief.
No more pain and no more death.
Just a feel of ease with every breath.
Would the smiles return and tears go away,
And get me by just one more day?
While in this short and silent calm,
I remember back to a lovely psalm.

Oh, if I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off and remain in the wilderness. The springs go into the valleys which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field and so that the fowls of the air will have a habitat while they sing among the branches. The grass grows for the cattle and herbs for the service of man that he may bring forth food out of the earth. The moon is appointed for the seasons, the sun knows his going down.

Now, as we walk the valley, we also climb the hills.
We all may walk in sorrow, but we also have our thrills.
For all the days of life, how thankful we should be,
For such a wondrous gift, if we only stop to see.
The birds that fly, the fish that swim,
The baby’s crawl, a fragrant rose from him.
Some small gesture, of a gentleman polite,
Or a small satisfaction, that today we got it right.

When good days go bad, or bad days turn good.
We learn and grow from both, embrace it if you would.
Recall the hill while in the valley, and the valley when on the hill.
That will give you solace, if you’re healthy or if you’re ill.
It will lift you up and set you on your feet,
To walk again or fall again, with another day to greet.
We should never curse the valley, no matter how we feel,
Remember the greatness of it all, as when we lingered on the hill.

CaptainRon65

[Author]

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