Heart Of A Tree (Poetry)

I sit and watch the light fall on the trees —
the speed it changes, glances, slants away
I cannot guess how many shades of green
in all their subtle tones come into play

I never tire of this unsullied view —
just trees and sky — no clash of ugly brick
no sign of human hand that would intrude
all’s left to Nature’s kind and clever trick

I love it like the birds and squirrels do
each leaf, each twig and branch that stretches high
but I know I can’t protect its right to thrive
so savour it, the while we share this sky ...

I fear a time when greedy axemen come
to slash and burn — make homeless those who live
on this small plot of earth, unspoilt as yet
there’s surely plans they will do something with

I watch the seasons, watch the borrowed days
and marvel at the sunset’s rule of red
at heart I am a tree, my limbs inform
dark shadows fall but stars gleam overhead