How Do We Get There From Here? Poem by Helen C Capan

a song for Mama

The sun's early rays
awakened her eyes;
the little girl spoke with a yawn.
“Mama, where are we going, and where are we now,
and how do we get there from here? ”

“Rest now, My Baby,
the trip is not long;
The day will be filled with much fun!
There’ll be swinging and sliding and swimming and play,
and, yes, Mama knows the way.”

Life's setting of sun
Was closing the eyes
Of Mama, my mentor, and friend.
“Mama, where are you going, and where are you now,
and how do you get there from here? ”

Mama's whisper was heard
By all in the room,
Yet she spoke with authority strong,
'Baby, I know where I'm going, and I know where I am,
and Jesus will get me there! '

My way is so dark,
and Mama’s long gone,
and now I am left all alone.
But the words in my ear are the ones that I hear
as I waken with all of this fear:
“Lord, where am I going, and where am I now,
and how do I get there from here? ”

The answer then came
from Heaven itself,
Resounding through grief and despair:
“I know where you’re going, and I know where you are,
and I know how to get there from here!
You’re on your way to the mansions of glory
That I have prepared for you there.”

I cried when I heard
that comforting word
from my Jesus, the Lord of my life.
“Yes, My Lord, Yes, I will follow just You
so that I will get there from here.”

The words of my mama
and Jesus my Lord
will ring in my heart now for years:

“Rest now, My Baby, the trip is not long.
The day will be filled with much fun!
There’ll be swinging and sliding and swimming and play;
and, yes, Mama knows the way.”
“I know where you’re going, and I know where you are,
and I know how to get there from here!
You’re well on your way To the mansions of glory
That I have prepared for you there.”

2006 Helen C. Capan