Keep Your Roots

The hogshed, woodshed, all the sheds are gone,
no corncrib, smokehouse, outhouse, barn appears,
the maple trees are missing from the lawn,
how transitory were my boyhood years.

The present empties soon into the past,
Pope Francis warns, “Do not forget your roots,”
our families and traditions surely last
when we let Church and children be our fruits.

Beware of “spiritual alzheimer’s,” he said,
do not forget the faith you have begun,
save up in heaven the good that you’ve been fed,
repent, and God forgets the bad you’ve done.

Nothing I’ll bring, Lord, when I go to sleep,
all will be gone, except the good I keep.

                      by Pete Voelz         7/11/15