Mission Tejas State Park

Thomas Hemminger

September 8, 2024

We camped close to the Camino Real

with ghosts of centuries past 

echoing their tales 

through the halls of pine, oak, cottonwood.

We felt the stories of the first nations

whirl around our campsite,

and the air was heavy 

with the sacred heritage they told. 

We read the history of churches

that planted themselves along 

a highway now all but lost

to the annals of natural history. 

We celebrated with the songs

of nature floating through the vaulted canopy

of bowers overhead, venerated by native birds,

in our cathedral of earth and wood. 

Thomas Hemminger is an elementary music teacher living in Dallas, Texas. His work has been published locally in Dallas, as well as in The Wilda Morris Poetry Challenge, Texas Poetry Assignment, and The Poetry Catalog. His personal hero is Mr. Fred Rogers, the creator of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. It was through America’s favorite “neighbor” that Thomas learned of the importance of loving others, and of giving them their own space and grace to grow.