Ipso Facto (Poetry)

It was, we agreed, a nice little tree
cheerful-looking in its crisp green
and standing sturdy in its place
close to and sheltered by the wall

It was planted by a lady gardener
who left our block four tenancies ago
sapling-small and tender when it came
sun, rain and birdlife saw it grow

All seemed well until we found it toppled —
keeled right over lying on the grass
as though the roots had given up their
                                                shallow grasp
on soil that could no longer take the strain

Perhaps it was the wind that brought it down —
a sudden gust that peeled it from the wall
Who know how these things happen?
No signs of damage in its unplanned repose

We imagined they would right it — stake and tie
it back into position — no harm done
Days passed. We gave the subject no more thought
It was a shock to discover the sawn stump

No attempt at rescue — no simple act of restoration
just the sad remains below a sudden gap
The current tenants clearly not in tune with Nature
we judged them careless by the very fact