The Old Tree of Memory (for John)

To the botanist or forest ranger,

the tree speaks of time and age.

Through wind, drought, forest

fire, lightning and lumbering,

some trees endure for centuries.

An old friend of mine turned 95

the other day. In my mind, I am

taken to way back when. I am

reminded of a time 40 years

ago when we were still young

and productive.

In my day dreaming and photos

taken over the years, I am reminded

of the many who have passed away,

the people and places which have

either aged considerably or have all

together been erased from the face

of the Earth.

And so it is, I sit here in my old

age strapped to the relentless yoke

of time. These days of retirement,

disabilities which have physically

and emotionally impaired me,

restrict and prevent my keeping

up with the frenetic and harried

pace of today’s society and change.

Daily on Facebook, however, I

post many of my photos, writings

and artworks from the past four

decades or so, capturing and

preserving some of the people

and places from life gone by.

And in doing so, the old tree

continues to grow. Images and

ideas are kept alive, hopefully

lending to a future of renewal

and prosperous growth—The

New Tree of Life seeded from

that which came before.

                     -30-

Chris Hanch 10-11-2020