I wrote this poem last year, but when I began to see the Christmas tree lots spring up along the highways, I decided to resurrect it for the holidays. I still like it very much!
yesterday i saw
a flock of evergreens
ensconced in a
Christmas tree lot
crowded together
pushing and shoving
jostling for position
tightly against a chain
link fence topped
with razor wire
confined with no
way of escape
incarcerated
through no fault of
their own looking
like puppies in a
pound up for adoption
anxiously peering
hopefully expectant
eyes pleading
choose me
pick me
please take me home
with you
pretty please
i'll be your best friend...
POSTSCRIPT
today the 26th of december
i again drove by the lot
and saw the aftermath
looking like photos
from news reports or
pictures from life magazine
the cut-off bodies
boughs laid flat
on the ground
in rows
silent except for
the sound of the
chipper being brought
to life
green expectant lives
new destiny
mulch
perhaps to protect and
nourish newly planted
evergreen sprigs
this spring
if they had mouths
or a voice
would they tell?
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