PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

I was brought up quite religiously…

I was taught heaven was somewhere in the sky.

Where if a person was good down here on Earth, 

there was a place for them on high.

A place where we will walk among the softness of the clouds

in a paradise floating above…

where miracles happen every day

and where we’re always surrounded by love.

When I grew up and began to think for myself

to question…to clarify

I kept returning to the concept of Heaven…and began to wonder why?

Why do we look up to Heaven, for when we look straight ahead, 

side to side…up or down

there are a myriad of miracles to see…right here on the ground.

Look at the diversity of life created right here beneath our feet

from natures beauty that surrounds us to the daily foods we eat.

I have been at the birth of my children and grandchildren 

and don’t think it’s preposterous to say

in the maternity ward of a hospital you walk among angels every day. 

I’ve experienced love

I’ve seen beauty, 

I’ve seen a family grow and blossom and thrive

I’ve seen sunrises and sunsets and rainbows,

all while I’m still quite alive.

I wonder if I’ve had this concept of Heaven all wrong…

if religions aren’t a little remiss

for when I look around at the blessings in my life 

I wonder…can it get any better than this?

Sure there may be a Heaven high in the sky 

which we may experience in our rebirth

but let’s not forget…while we’re alive

the Heaven…

right here 

on Earth.

Looking up at the sky this morning

as clouds and colors fill the air

I have to wonder…

am I looking up at heaven

or already standing there?

She crawled into her father’s lap…not long after Grandma died,

Still trying to process what had happened…still a little teary-eyed.

They were on the porch in Grandma’s rocker..when they heard a familiar buzz

“Daddy, are there hummingbirds in heaven?” She asked, “I’d like to know because…

that was Grandma’s favorite bird…she loved her hummingbirds so…

are there hummingbirds in heaven, Daddy…I’d really like to know?”

Her father started rocking…gently to and fro…

“Are there hummingbirds in heaven…” he said…”Let me tell you what I know…”

“Your Grandma talked a lot about hummingbirds…from the time I was a little boy

She called them little hearts with wings…little moments of fleeting joy.”

“She said a hummingbird is never afraid of a branch breaking…

because she has confidence in her wings.

She said when they spread their wings and fly and soar

they teach there’s beauty in the tiniest things.”

“She was always saying as she watched them come to the feeder then fly off to the sky

that hummingbirds are here to remind us how fast the time can fly…”

“And now that your grandma’s time with us is over…a little sooner than we planned

I think I can answer your question…I think I finally understand…”

“Are there hummingbirds in heaven you ask? 

Oh yes…you see the angels need someone to guide them…

and now that Grandma has wings of her own

she happily flying beside them.”