Triumph

November 28, 2014November 28, 2014 / Apple Hill Cottage / 9 Comments

The orange leaves triumph
for but a time;

then fall to the ground
to be raked, bagged,
wind blown, composted —
changed.

the tree triumphs
for but a time

then falls to the ground
to be chopped, burned, planed,
firewood, timber, boards —
changed.

men, women, you, me,
we triumph for but a time;

then we fall to the ground,
the way of all life;
ashes to ashes,
dust to dust…
to be mourned, buried,
cremated, interred —
changed…

but that is not the end.

For God
Triumphs
For all time.

He rescues us
From dust
and calls us
To live
In Triumph
With Him
Forever.

Double

November 27, 2014 / Apple Hill Cottage

Next year at the cottage
we will have a garden–
the plot is ready,
buried under leaves—
until then,
I’m grateful
for store bought
green beans.

Architecture

November 18, 2014November 18, 2014 / Apple Hill Cottage / 10 Comments

When we were seventeen,
We carved our initials
on the inside of this bridge.

Desecrating public property,
Yes. I know.

Thirty some years later
we drove down that same road
to see if we could find the bridge,
the carved initials.

The bridge was there
spanning the little creek.
Newer initials had replaced ours.

Older and wiser,
we no longer needed
to carve our initials
for posterity,
But were happy
with the remembering.

Last year they tore it down.
Carefully.
Every board numbered.
It took almost eight months,
but now it stands again.
Rebuilt. Repainted. Restored.

Cox Farm Bridge. Built 1940. Rebuilt 2013.