Eulogy for a Tree By William R. Hicks I feel sad A tree was cut down And it will never return It is gone forever The only trace is empty space It’s just not the same Forty years to get that size I couldn’t believe my eyes It was being butchered by several guys The area was yellow-taped off Just like a crime scene Because it was a crime I feel regret Why didn’t I stop them? When I saw the chainsaws? I felt helpless I felt powerless What was the use? They said it had root rot But I think not I have a hard time trusting Anyone who is planning To cut down an urban forest of 1,000 trees They won’t even tell us why We’re left asking why Why not tell us why? Why the big secret? Tell us! Are you trying to save money? Money on water? Money on landscaping? Money to fight roots? Or perhaps you have other plans for this land? Whatever the monetary reasons You clearly see trees as liabilities I see them as assets Any money you’ve spent You’ve made back on rent People pay more to live with trees Just look at Palos Verdes So what are you up to? You’re cutting down your assets But you can’t see the forest for the trees Upgrade but don’t degrade It took forty years to have what you have And you’re ruining it I feel angry I want you to pay I feel sad That you can’t see a tree I wish you could see like me The life, the beauty I took a photo of my wife She was admiring this tree She touched its trunk with her hands Before we knew What we now know Their plans to cut, their plans to kill I feel denial, how can this be? Is it real? Certainly these trees would always just be I don’t even want to go see this missing Avatar tree Who could possibly pillage Mariners Village? But the reality is nigh I’ve seen trees die I never would have believed it They just don’t get it I stood there in my shower and wept I had never cried for a tree Was I just being silly? To cry for this tree, content to just be It had limbs like me I inhaled its exhales It inhaled mine It came from a seed and so did I Tree, why did you have to die? You were so beautiful You filled the space While I was busy doing You were just being Giving what you could…oxygen, shade, beauty Taking very little But what do I know? I’m just a sentimental artist Not a business guy like some And yet I know this experience is real You’ve touched me tree, of this I am certain And when it’s all said and done, and they’re pulling down that curtain I’ll know I loved you tree I know I’m weird I’ve always been weird But that has nothing to do with you For these feelings are true
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:46:52 +0000
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