The Beautifully Ugly Blue Gum Tree Poem by Job Ombati

40 years ago,
The clarion call rang clear:
'Cut one tree — plant three! '
They took heed —
And planted
Not three, but ten.
Not the dark wattle tree,
But the elegant
Blue gum —
'To save our environment.'

40 years later,
A different cry:
'Cut them! '
'Cut the eucalyptus down! '

What changed?
Why did the confident voice
So swiftly
Turn to a cry —
Urgent and panicky?

The blue gum
Took plea
In the ecological court
Of justice.
The judge
Was an infidel,
Looked as impatient
As ever,
And irritated.
Given a chance,
The blue gum remained
Gracefully quiet.
The verdict —
Hastily read:
'Too greedy,
Too deceptive,
To be C U T! '

[Sunday 1, June 2025: 10: 15 pm - Nairobi]