by Janet Ireton

As a child I cried

When I forgot to put out

My neighbour’s bin,

When paid sixpence to put it out and

Bring it in again.

You calmed my fears,

You dried my tears.

“It’s okay.”

 

As an adult I shudder

When the house alarm rings

At an early morning hour.

You come and you say,

“It’s just the wind that sings,

It’s okay.”

 

Lately as I fret

To have the table set

In time for the luncheon guest,

A sunray alights on my face,

Through an open window space –

Repeats, “It’s okay.”

 

When ambling along

A lonely forest trail,

A robin in the sky,

Chirps cheerily by

And seems to say –

“It’s okay.”

 

Now when I fear –

There’s always a sunray near,

A bird close by,

A whisper in my ear,

A chorus that I hear –

“It’s okay!”