A Thousand Years
by Doug Jennette
On a day to honor warriors
Texas waters carried twelve souls
into the night. A thousand year old
cypress, whose branches gave shade
to Camanche warriors and rest to eagles
for much of its life, was not strong enough
to withstand the thousand year flood
and went down
in that water.
This cypress, its wood precious
and more exotic and sturdy than most,
was turned to lumber
by men with vision who stood
only half as high as its
downed trunk.
A man, our friend, whose voice and fingers
carried souls to a better place was
later washed away in another flood.
He hung on longer than possible, but
time carried him on nonetheless.
Two men who never met, touched each other
through cypress wood.
Above the lake at Chestnut Ridge
a cypress bench looks out
over time and still water- a thousand year old pew
to hold men not yet born, who will come to
rest in shade on its shoulders. This bench knows
ancestors who passed its way, holds memories of flight
in its folded rings.
We remember our friend and his gifts
with gratitude. A thousand years
may pass again without another like him
to touch our souls.
by Doug Jennette
April, 2016