day seventeen

To Live
I sigh and grow older,
not in the fearful or pitiful
or sad way of someone
who never thought to leave
home until it was too late,
but in the satisfied, passionate manner
of someone who has truly lived,
worked hard at something,
breathed in deeply the sea air,
felt the sand between their toes
even days after returning to the city,
admired the design of a rose,
kissed their children goodnight,
fell asleep to the sound of your voice,
and loved their Savior and neighbor
from a place of calm within the storm.