Phyllis Wallin

Newport, Tennessee

Poetry has always been a part of my life. I have written poetry since I was a teenager, though I never tried to submit my work until after my children were grown. I have a ten year record of published poetry in large hardbound anthologies with American Poetry Association, and five years with the National Library of Poetry with awards of recognition from both. I am a member of Southern Writer's Association. I have done a gift book on Appalachian memories beginning with World War One to present day. I have done much personalized poetry for people I know for hometown newspapers. Also, I enjoy public poetry readings.

The Great I Am

You were the high and lofty One
Of eternity's habitation.
Your were the Word with an infinite plan
That brought forth all creation.

In all points of space You were there,
bringing chaos under control:
Reaching out into black nothingness,
Because light and love were Your goals.

You were the Word of Creation's dawning
When the great black void came alive,
As the thundering voice of
The Great I Am
Moved and began to strive.

The earth stood in space at Your command.
The sun and the moon became light.
The stars were flung from Your fingertips;
Then You blessed the beautiful sight.

As the blessings fell from the lips of God,
The morning stars sang their praise,
And the heavenly host became witness
Of the lovely beginning of days.

Illustration of Eternity

If a sparrow were to carry the earth away
One grain of sand--each flight--
To a place beyond all worlds unknown,
Far away from pollution, or blight,

Ten thousand times ten thousand years,
As the ages come and go,
If the sparrow's wings keep diligence
On its mission to and fro,

While the oceans distill and mist away,
And are never again to be,
The time, well spent of the sparrow's wings,
Has scarce been---eternity.

The Hourglass of My Time

The sands of time have consumed me.
Many years have bent me low.
My opponent has been Adversity,
but has been both friend and foe.
Fiery trials were times of testing,
like fire to temper fine steel,
for an instrument
strong and
enduring,
or a band
on the wagon wheel.
To serve has been my heritage.
And a labor of love --my duty.
Old Age shall lay my burden down,
and reward me a crown of beauty.
and reward me a crown of beauty.