Judith A. Whitaker, Counting</head><body><center><center><img src=http://www.saviodsilva.com/p1.gif border=0 alt=Saviodsilva></center><hr color=3C00FF size=4><br><font size=4 face=arial><b><a href=41.htm>Judith A. Whitaker</a></b></font><br><center><img src=http://www.saviodsilva.net/poem/a/1.JPG border=0 alt=Poem></center><br><font size=3 face=arial><b>Counting</a></b></font></center><blockquote><blockquote><p align=left><font face=arial size=2><b>Before he dared to share his life,<br>He’d wake from sleep in pond’rous fret.<br>‘Twas love assured in bliss and strife,<br>Sustained through all by sheer kismet?<br>Was there a thing he did not know<br>That could insure their love would stay<br>As fresh and joyful each morrow<br>As full of promise as today?<br>His father found him, head hung low,<br>And knowing his distress did tell<br>An anecdote from long ago<br>Had steered him right through ill and well. <br>“It was our wedding day, you see,<br>My Best Man stood there by my side,<br>To prop me up like wobbly tree,<br>Support sore needed, not denied.<br>“The nuptial peals my mind did slow<br>While watching for your mom to come. <br>My nerves all twanged as tight-strung bow.<br>When he declared, ‘Don’t fear, old chum.’<br>“He plunged his fist in pocket deep,<br>And brought it out with coins adrip.<br>He placed them in my hand to keep.<br>‘What’s this?’ I asked. He held his grip.<br>“‘My sole advice,’ he then replied,<br>‘On loving long and staying one.’<br>‘But what’s it mean?’ I asked aside.<br>‘You’ll find out later on, old son.’<br>“Inside my tux the change I stowed,<br>Then turning, saw a vision bright,<br>My bride with radiant beauty glowed.<br>Ethereal in hallowed light.<br>“Within a hush of heart and mind,<br>In perfect silence of shared bliss,<br>Our souls were joined, with rings entwined,<br>My recollection lost in kiss.<br>“‘Twas later on, a year or so,<br>When I recalled what went before.<br>I rang my friend, for I was low<br>And never needed counsel more.<br>“Reminded him of coins he gave<br>With hint of guidance I should heed.<br>I told him of my woes so grave<br>And begged he help me in my need.<br>“We’d a child, I seemed apart.<br>My loving bride loved babe instead.<br>I gave my all, but felt at heart<br>Displaced by newborn love had bred.<br>“He chuckled when I told him this<br>And asked me for his money back<br>Upset that he’d my woe dismiss<br>I asked if he was off his track.<br>“But, no, he said, he’d like to know<br>About the change I’d put aside<br>It’s lost, I said, my tongue was slow<br>I’d turned in tux with it inside.<br>“‘You want to know how much it was?’<br>He asked in disconcerting glee.<br>‘How much?’ I asked, I thought because<br>I’d have to pay him back, you see.<br>“He laughed out loud, cried ‘That’s the thing!’<br>‘I never counted it, old man.<br>The lesson’s there if you’d just bring<br>Your mind to bear on heaven’s plan!’<br>“He gave his all and did not count,<br>I took his all and did the same. <br>That day I learned from God’s own fount<br>A lasting truth, a boundless flame.<br>“It’s lit our lives so far, my son<br>I pass it now to you this day<br>Give all, count not, and you’ll have won<br>Through love’s steep hills a gold pathway.<P></p></b></font></blockquote></blockquote><hr color=0000ca size=3><center><font size=2 face=arial><b><a href=http://www.isavo.net/poem/sk4.htm>This Poem's Index Page 1</a><br><a href=http://www.yensa.net/poem/sk4.htm>This Poem's Index 2</a><br><a href=http://www.isavo.com/poems.htm>Poetry Website</a><br><a href=http://www.saviodsilva.com>Saviodsilva</a><br><a href=http://www.isavo.com>Isavo Site</a></b></font></center><SCRIPT LANGUAGE=JavaScript SRC=http://www.saviodsilva.org/r/fantasy.js></SCRIPT></body></html>