One Day Soon

One day soon,
       this will all be gone.
And we will be glad,
left only with unraveling memories
of long sleeves and itchy wool sweaters,
mix-matched mittens,
     and fingers red and aching
     from the cold.

One day soon,
        this will all be gone.
The bushes will grow taller,
birds will build nests in the branches
        singing what they practiced all winter,
and my husband's favorite knit hat
             will be found,
                  sodden on the side of the driveway
          where it spent its winter vacation,
                               blown away by the wind.

One day soon,
           this will all be gone.
And God will restore the earth
      with every color blazing,
the mountains will sing,
and all the trees of the field
        will give a standing ovation,
    accompanied by the laughter of children,
playing in the streets.

One day soon,
             this will all be gone.
And everything will be right again.

And He will reign for ever and ever.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning
nor crying
nor pain any more,
for the former things
           have passed away.
And He who sat upon the throne said,
"Behold,
             I make all things new."

                             Revelation 21. 4-5