Trees hold memories,
history cut down, 
shaved smooth,
and the pulp mashed 
into parchment.
Words from stories
ingrain the wood,
and runes permeate leaves 
that flutter syllables into song
as they scatter the earth
and cultivate the soil 
with our ashes, 
our bodies.

But God did it better.
He wrote His Word
on our hearts, 
engraved His Name 
on our souls, 
and infused His footprint 
in the natural world. 
Our legacy, 
our heritage 
is written in Heaven,
in the Lamb's Book of Life. 

Chris Wood is an award-winning poet with her work appearing in several publications, including Salvation South, Heart of Flesh, and Poetry Quarterly, Her work also appears in several anthologies including "Bayou, Blues, and Red Clay: Poetry Anthology (2024)." Learn more at: https://chriswoodwriter.com/