©1989 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Mohammad Hossein on Unsplash

Who’s the fastest, boldest, tallest?
Who’s the slowest, shyest, smallest?
Who am I, if these I’m not?
I’m the best-est me I’ve got!

©1980 Susan Noyes Anderson

image from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Hands clasped upon the altar’s lace
reflect the love within each face
that joins through time, in unity,
two souls for all eternity.

©2025 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Ryan Eads on Unsplash

I’m reaching for the kind of faith
that holds me through the night,
that wraps me up in warmth and love
until the morning light.
I’m looking for the hope that sees
beyond a padlocked gate
to rows of dancing daffodils
that stand and wave and wait
to greet the sun and claim the day,
to sweep away the night,
to whisper God is over all,
and all is well and right.

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

Image by Chandan Chaurasia on Unsplash

I have a pet lizard named Timicky Brown,
who lives in the guest bathroom shower.
He feasts upon lettuce, sleeps on the drain,
and lies on my shoulder for hours.

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Silvia Rossana Garavaglia

Dear John:
You’re gone,
Life goes on.
On and on.

©2025 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Getty from Unsplash+

I may not be as small and helpless
as I used to be.
I’m not the little girl who used to
climb up on your knee.

©2016 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

When I was young, life rolled along
in notes as varied as a song.
My music played, light and profound,
both rainbow hues and solemn sound.

©1997 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Jannes Jacobs on Unsplash

How valiant is the tree that grows
majestic in the land–
the tree that fights to set down roots
so deep that it will stand
against the bitter storm,
the fiercest wind, the driving rain,
against the freezing winter
and the dusty, barren plain.