A Cypress Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

A cypress tree stood like a guard
Protecting us against life’s threats
Its roots and knees kept summer storms
From shattering our little nest

Small fingers often prayers formed
‘Gainst daily struggles we held tight
Sunday we sat on well-worn pews
And read the Good Book Wednesday night

Once in a while the pump would break
Yet somehow it would end up fixed
The old jalopy chugged along
Till we were safely in the yard

One day the weather turned real cold
A little heater must be bought
I still remember how the tire
Decided to go flat that day

An angel came to help us then
Looking to all just like a man
When we arrived at our cold place
That heater took a special spot

How fragile was our thread of days
That could be torn so easily
By people who had clout at whim
Yet we survived through thick and thin

Whom can I thank for those old days
Who was it held us like frail birds
Wings bruised, hearts bleeding, trembling still
From loss of father, husband, friend

Was it the cypress tree up front
The only one down that small road
Was it put there by heaven’s door
To keep us safe and fear no more?