ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---

The church seemed very quiet there

below each ocean wave -

and blessed, a special mother was,

because her son behaved.

He didn't whine, he didn't squirm,

he didn't make a sound -

and sat so still and reverently

when off'ring came around.

 

The doctor bills had taken all -

so money?  She had none.

The off'ring plate had passed her by

- but not her little son.

Inside his 'hand', his tiny fin

where heart and love enjoin,

a 'clink' had echoed through the church.

Dropped in, his little coin.

 

Her heart was heavy knowing that

she couldn't show more love -

by doing things for her small son

she thought the world of -

...like take him to some baseball games,

go camping after dark -

...like going on vacations,

or to amusement park.

 

Then after church, as sun came out,

as pastor shook each hand,

as mom and son had left the church -

the pastor didn't stand.

He knelt through socializing noise

with laughter in the air -

and shook the hand of her young boy,

there in his wheel chair.

 

That night when they knelt down to pray

for animal and bird -

and other fish throughout the sea,

his little voice, she heard.

Despite their plight, his pleading prayer

was for a hungry boy -

so fail, she did, containing tears

from overwhelming joy.

 

With tear-stained cheeks, so proud she was -

the way that he had prayed -

in humble, true sincerity -

with love for poor displayed.

His meager off'ring, God had blessed

as sleep had passed his way.

They say the ocean level rose -

a thousand tears that day.

 

Now folded up in closet dark,

a dusty wheelchair -

but wholesome legacy of love

is still expanding there -

where coins drop in the off'ring plates

below each ocean wave.

And blessed, a special mother is,

with treasured mem'ries saved.

---

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

 

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