Endangered Trees

Bridget is a senior undergraduate at Aurora University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in English. She sometimes writes poetry, but she points out flowers, birds, and other elements of nature every day. Bridget hopes for the restoration of forests as well.

Brown bark poles shoot up from the grass

And sprout green leaves on their branches

That gather together to shelter us

From every storm and fire.

Crowds stroll towards the brown poles

But give them only furrowed eyebrows.

They look up towards every branch

And clench their teeth.

Everyone turns away from the poles

And sprints into the foggy unknown.

A hunter leads another crowd with an axe,

Calling them to give the poles their fix.

The poles topple off their stumps,

Falling onto the dry brown mud.

The crash gets everyone cheering

And sends them home singing.

The brown poles rest on the ground

Until a truck slows and stops from behind.

The driver drivers away with every pole,

Stealing our shelter from storms and fires.