I was 24, and a mother of three when I officially learned one of life’s great lessons.  Do not to put raw eggs into your coat pocket. I was new at this “farm girl” thing, but I quickly realized that  it was a bad idea as soon as I dropped the fifth egg in and heard that dreaded cracking sound. My husband's yellow rain coat, and two less eggs for the carton. That day I also learned not to leave the lid off the goat feed, especially when rain clouds are on the horizon, and then I learned that I need to shut the barn yard gate just a little faster. There I was trying to pull a stubborn goat out of a garbage can full of wet feed with eggs in my pocket. 

I was 21 when I found out I was expecting my first child, and I was simply amazed. A new life was growing inside of me and I knew that somehow, after nine months, a new little person would arrive just in time for our first wedding anniversary. Surprise! We had thought we would wait a while before starting a family, but we are very happy that things didn't go as planned! 

My family moved into a house on Bethune Beach, FL when I was 17. I would often walk along the ocean’s edge for hours at a time, collecting shells while pondering all the big questions in life. My footprints would capture a puddle of water behind me, and reflect all the colors sky. Then the next wave would come and my footprints would be gone, forever.  Yet, as long as I kept walking I was always making more footprints.  As I walked along I knew I wasn’t really alone.  I knew that my Maker, the creator of the heavens and the earth would join me on those walks.  He enjoyed those days as much as I did.  I wonder if He misses those days too.

Seventh grade.  Age Thirteen

We had just moved to a new school district, it was supposed to be one of the “better” schools. I had gone to small town schools before this one, but this middle school was frightening. I remember being grabbed and teased by the boys, I remember the tattoo parlor in the girl’s bathroom, with razors and permanent marker. I remember being offered a “good” deal on any kind of drug I’d like to try out, while waiting in the lunch line. There were four pregnant girls in my middle school. And I’d often get lost in the maze of halls and stairways between classes. I guess this is somewhat normal, that was back in the early 1990’s.

I'm here thinking of you
On this Tuesday afternoon
You took the early morning train
I wanted to go with you
But there was so much to do
Now I'm caught out in the rain

Is it raining where you are?
How long until you come home?
This city is a lonely place without you.

Splashing through puddles
Cars, bikes and busses rush by
My feet are wet, but the summer rain is warm
All my thoughts seem muddled
Everyone is in their own world
This city is a lonely place without you near

Waiting for the phone to ring
Searching for a song to sing
I'm waiting in the station a shelter from the rain
I should have gone with you today
My to-do list can wait
Night falls and I'm still waiting for your train.

Is it raining where you are?
Did you catch the late night train?
This city is a lonely place without you.

One more story, one more song, one more page

I hear the whispers in the late night silence
I hear the giggles in the cool spring air
It's been an hour since we said good night
It's been an hour since the kiss and prayer

You are the light, I am the glow

Familiar path, familiar trail
Familiar train upon the rail
Familiar winds to guide the sail
Familiar stars, distant and pale.


Moonlight comes and moonlight goes
It casts a shadow on the rose
It leads me to the path I know
It dances with the leaves that blow


A Shadow passes over me
Without, I pause. Within, I weep.
As moonlight glows upon my cheek
I wipe my tears before I speak.


The spring rain comes and then it goes
Giving life to April’s rose.
The river takes the course it knows
To guide the rain for which it flows.


I watch the wind upon the trees
I watch the moonlight as it flees
I feel the air by which I breathe
I feel the breeze upon my cheek


Morning comes and morning goes
Leaving dewdrops on the rose
The sun will take the course it knows
The leaves they rush to where wind blows.


Quiet comes, and quiet goes
My words within my heart arose
To greet the river as it flows
To capture raindrops from the rose


Familiar voice, familiar hands
Familiar changes to my plans
Familiar waves upon the sands
Familiar paths through foreign lands


Summer comes and summer goes
The river freezes, yet it flows
Beneath the ice, the wind and snow
Beneath the chill that took the rose.


I’ve walked this path, before I think
Perhaps in summer, maybe spring
I came here once to with songs to sing
To live, to love, to seek a dream.


It seems I’ve walked this road before
It seems I’ve walked along this shore
I wonder what I came here for
I’ve been here once, or twice of more.


Familiar voice, familiar hands
Familiar changes to my plans
Familiar waves upon the sands
Familiar paths through foreign lands


I’ll find my path, I’ll find my trail
I’ll capture wind to guide my sail
I’ll watch the stars, distant and pale
I’ll write a book to tell the tale.


You are the light, I am the glow
You are the clouds, I am the snow
You are the river’s faithful flow
I am the raindrop on the rose.


Fall sweet rain upon the rose
Come now light and softly glow
Come now wind and gently blow
Flow my river, rise and flow

~Sarah Janisse Brown