December Memories

Ice forms on Oklahoma memories,
a naked cottonwood,
its yellow leaves blanketing the ground,
an evergreen waiting
to sacrifice it life,
and a snowflake tumbling
through the cold morning air.

I see all this
through nostalgia's haze
and long to hear
the bells on Christmas Day
pealing out their joy
to the gathered congregation
anticipating Reverend Jones' benediction

I remember
the ribbon of God's laughter
as a song rising
above the chaos of creation
when we exclaimed,
"My God, how great Thou art!"1

Footnotes
1  This is part of the last line in the hymn "How great thou art" by Stuart K. Hine and Carl G. Boberg.