On a recent trip to the Heavener area I took a hike along the river and I took time to really enjoy the beauty of the trees, rocks, and water. I got shots of a few of these trees, and as I did took a moment to reflect upon a peom that my late grandfather had written and had been published in his book "Pearls from inland seas" His name was Estel Staib and he died when I was 5. He was a wonderful man who gave to the community in many ways. He worked as an mechanical engineer for the Apollo missions and in his time off he went into the black community and taught young men drafting so they could get better jobs. This was in a time when racisim was still quite prevalant. He is the reason my family now lives in Oklahoma, they are originally New Yorkers, but moved to Tulsa so he could work at Rockwell. So anyway, back to the poem.
When I am weary, worn and old, dear God
let there still be
this unspiled spot of virgin earth where
my grandchild can see
the gradeur of a tree.
The arboreal majesty
of branches arching haigh
to form a living canopy of green against the sky.
Let her there wander, unafraid
beneath this wondrous living wood
and find within it's dappled shade
a sense of peace and solitude.
Perhaps to know a reverance there- -
or be inspired to breathe a prayer. Aware that God is very near:
assured that God will care.
No comments:
Post a Comment