How many years has it been since Noah passed?

Since his aged frame stumbled beneath the curse

and fell, yielding itself to death and to the field?

The ones who saw his face and knew his voice

likewise bent, and fell, and turned again

to dust ages ago, their memories buried with them.

No one now would know his name at all,

had God not inscribed it in everlasting stone,

speaking to each new generation the memory of a friend.

And today, when the sun speared the threatening clouds

with golden light, and God’s almighty bow

gleamed in ruby, gold, emerald, and sapphire,

the LORD thought back to the pledge of mercy that He made,

and He thought of Noah, the grandfather of us all.