The Plight Of The Trees (Poetry)

We watched them arrive
mere saplings in pots
rough holes dug for each
pushed in — earth stamped down
a stake for support

Nothing more — that’s all
the care they received
each twig for himself
rooting touch and go
most of them survived

thanks to tenants who
watered them during
a short spell of drought
rescued and re-staked
them post-hurricane

And so they grew tall
paid us back with shade
showed us the seasons
year after year and
housed birds and squirrels

Thirty-five years on
the tree-butchers come
plan their massacre
blood and sap run cold
dreading the horror