Sometimes

A poem

Sometimes the world feels loud and I need to hear the leaves rustling in the breeze.

Sometimes the world feels busy, and I need to watch the ducks circle lazily in the pond.

Sometimes the world feels mean, and I need to see the deer gently leading her fawn.

Sometimes my heart feels broken and I need to watch the sun rise with hope in the morning.

Sometimes my heart feels angry and I need the rush of ocean waves to drown out its cry. 

Sometimes my heart feels hopeless and I need to see the promise of clouds scrolling by.

Sometimes my spirit leaps with joy and needs to celebrate with songs beneath a shaded tree.

Sometimes my spirit longs for God and needs to look to the horizon’s sunset-hued depth.

Sometimes my spirit cries for peace and needs to climb a mountain to find space for breath. 

Sometimes my mind is filled with fear and I need to walk on straight, predictable paths.

Sometimes my mind is too busy to think and I need to talk to the trees along the way.

Sometimes my mind is quiet and I need to smell the flowers and mark the day.

No matter the swell of pain or peace

Sometimes the only way to quell or embrace

Is to go outside.

The Lord is my shepherd. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me Beside Still Waters…ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created… “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

(From Psalm 23, Job 12, Revelation 4, and Isaiah 6)

Sarah Jonnalagadda 2023