Poem April 25, 1988 Issue

Mustard seed

Susannah Breaux Seaman

The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

(Matthew 13:31, 32)

I had many dreams.
(Not all were built on rock.)
Some laudable, others not,
to serve was least of them.

I built a great estate
to house my dreams and
planted dream seedlings
in a garden place.

Fed and watered,
they prospered—
until the frost.

I took stock
to see what
I could glean
from my field of dreams

And found among ruined visions
but one living thing:
a sturdy mustard seedling.

So I nurtured it
through a long winter
of dreamless years
and de-selfing tears.

And true to promise,
when grown,
it sheltered many nestlings
and beaconed many travelers
home.

I had many dreams.
(But one was built on rock.)
To serve was the greatest of them.

Susannah Breaux Seaman

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