by Andrew Hanson

by Andrew Hanson
Submitted April 30, 2014

Recently, the Adventist Review ran a poetry contest, judging three categories: hymns, rhyming poetry, and free verse. Our own Andrew Hanson won third prize in the Free Verse category! The Review published twelve winners in a special issue, available in its entirety here: https://www.adventistreview.org/9141512 Below is Andy’s winning poem, with Adventist Today’s heartfelt congratulations!
 

 
Gray is a Color, Too
 
Heavenly Father,
 
On this blustery, rainy, winter morning
Remind us that gray is a color, too
Of  dawn
            Squirrels
                        Clouds that bring needed rain
                                    The breasts of doves
            The fur of kittens
                                                Rail fences along country roads
                        Smoke from chimneys
                                                            A favorite coat
 
Remind us that gray is the color, too
                        Of wisdom
                                    Reflection
            Life’s mysteries       
                                                Difficult choices
 
Father of us all, help us to remember that gray is a color, too
                            as we face our individual winters of the soul
Times when the warming sunshine of your love
             does not penetrate our clouds.
 
                                                Amen