Good Pastures: A Place to Feel Ones Deepest Heartaches

By Sylvia Anne Pollard

With a central theme of comfort in the midst of heartache, Good Pastures is book of poetry that describes the emotional state of suffering while offering validation and conviction. Readers will have an understanding friend in Good Pastures as the poet writes from experience, not forcing the readers to share all her feelings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385002764

Sylvia Anne Pollard

Sylvia Anne began to write poetry as she sorted through her recent and early life’s trials, finding release and solace in expressing her emotions. Her style reflects the language of the modern middle class, and her open contemplations of life’s trials and uncertainty resonates with her readers who likewise encounter their own challenges.

Book preview

Good Pastures

My eyes are heavy,

My heart seems weighted.

This life, the sorrows within -

I can’t escape - I must escape!

These feelings inside

A heartache so deep.

How to escape, how to resolve?

Escape is only for a moment -

But resolve? It’s for a lifetime.

I see a field - A field so green.

The flowers glisten in the sun,

My eyes squint shut from the brightness of the sky -

What is this place? I feel so safe.

I look behind, I see a man -

He looks like the sun, His robes radiant and bright.

He’s watching me - he sees my tears.

Who is this man? I feel so safe!

He reaches out - He takes my hand.

He leads me here,

To the Good Pasture.

He hides me in the rock -

He shelters me from each fear.

His hand reaches - His fingers touch.

No memory can destroy,

No hurt can take away -

This warmth, this comfort,

This Good Pasture.

The Lord is my shepherd!

How can I want?

He leads me here -

To the Good Pasture.

I run with Him - I cry with Him.

I escape to Him,

He resolves every fear.

Look to this pasture,

Look to this Man.

He’ll take you by the hand -

He’ll walk beside you,

He’ll be your Savior -

Like He is mine.

"The Lord is my shepherd,

I will not be in need.

² He lets me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside [a]quiet waters.

³ He restores my soul;

He guides me in the [b]paths of righteousness

For the sake of His name.

⁴ Even though I walk through the [c]valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no [d]evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalms 23:1-4

"I long for Your salvation, Lord,

And Your Law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live that it may praise You,

And let Your ordinances help me.

¹⁷⁶ I have wandered about like a lost sheep; search for Your servant,

For I do not forget Your commandments." Psalm 119: 174-176

The Fallen Petal

A flower of innocence, bright with delight.

Gleaming in the sunlight with dewdrops of light.

Innocence, it shows, in purity and delight.

Glory and Laughter deepen the shades –

‘Till one little thought,

Fades the bouquet.

A flower tainted with hints of gray,

Gray that darkens each breath it then takes.

A voice, then a word.

A thought, then an action.

A Petal Falls, tainted by gray.

A mystery it brings, a curiosity it stirs.

The innocence fights- yet the glory still fades.

Will it survive the test of the dark?

Will the rose blossom,

And truly not fade?

A new day calls, the sun beams bright.

How many petals will you count tonight?

"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from [e]the body of this death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand