Trees

I was nearly breathless and heartily tired
when a faint tone struggled from a nearby dell
my fragile hope, for trees admired
sank like a ship on hearing the knell

I followed the echoes where I found
a new cut clearing met my gaze
stately trees were lying down
near stumps still bleeding life away

A camper’s stern persistent chop
to clear for grass that wanted wear
took a tree so young in bark
and planned on naught for growing there

This tree shall cease to put on rings
t’was ours for shade but not to keep
too soon to re-join Mother Earth
this tree will not renew its leaf

-Malcolm Kogut.