Gray Dry Wood Poem by William Kofoed

Once they were green growing trees
wind blew gently though their leaves
rain did fall from the clouds above
earth did with warmth hold their roots

men did come unto them
with loud saws and axes bright
end the peace of their grove
and the simple life of them

strip off the branches and green leaves
remove the bark and lay them bare
sunder apart of what they were
into what nature made not

then with iron dug from dark earth
drove nails though them
and formed of them what which
nature would not do

placed them here on men's line
cutting apart mother earth
this side is mine to have
and that side yours

and in the light of setting sun
a flash of bright color there is seen
a small bird that does not know
of the trees that once did grow