Old Growth Tree

[couchgrouch]

Old Growth TreeThey say that oak once gave coyotes half an acre of shadeand the bullets in its trunk are from Commanche renegadesit had a blanket of thick bark from a hundred Springs long goneDad used its branches for our cradles cos he wanted them strongand I could've used 'em for the cradle of my firstbornif not for the light'nin of a Texas summer stormnow it's a skeleton against the barren skieswhere buzzards watch the plain with their wicked eyesbut I know when to leave the plow and get my whistle wetcos late in the day its shadow points at Dad's old stillshedit was an old growth treeroots deep in the earthbranches reachin far up toward the starsyet drawin strength from the dirtwhen I look out at dawnthe first thing I seeis mem'ries in the dust of what long ago wasan old growth treewell Dad was a brand of man this land rarely sprouts anymorehis right shoulder had two bullets from the Korean warthough the lines on his face told of seasons forsaken to mudfaith n flowers spring up stronger after ev'ry Texas floodand with a headfulla rye and a bed in the strawhe gave seven sons n daughters to my sweet old Maand we all say he'd have seen a hunnerd years oldif that hunnerd proof light'nin hadn't taken its tollnow Ma goes out by the moon and prays over his boneswhen that oaktree's shadow points her toward his stonehe was an old growth treeroots deep in the earthbranches reachin far up toward the starsyet drawin strength from the dirtwhen I look out at dawnthe first thing I seeis mem'ries in the dust of what long ago wasan old growth treesometimes in the soft evening breezewe hear the moaning of those old growth trees(c)2006 Robert George