Time To Adore by Ruth Bell Graham (Collected Poems, 1977)

And when I die, I hope my soul ascends slowly,

so that I may watch the earth receding out of sight,

Its vastness growing smaller as I rise,

savoring its recession with delight.

Anticipating joy is itself a joy.

And joy unspeakable and full of glory

needs more than than, "in the twinkling of an eye,"

more than, "in a moment."

LORD, who am I to disagree?

It's only we have much to leave behind;

so much . . .

Before, these moments of transition will, for me,

be time to adore.