A tree drops its seed
Which creates new life.
Roots, a trunk and limbs of its own
Then outstretched leaves
Which fall in the fall,
Decay and feed
The roots and all
Until one day
It drops its seed
And nature starts again.
Man plants a seed
On a lawn of grass
To grow a tree
For shade, for swing;
To hide a view.
It grows and grows
And drops its leaves
And man complains
As he rakes them, bags them;
Pays to have them hauled away
In plastic on the curb.
He waters, rakes, prunes and feeds
(With chemicals of course)
Then wonders in the later years
Why the 'damned tree'
Begins to die
After all he's done.
© 2016 Kate McGahan
