A chat room of trees held a meeting;
It started with just one or two.
But over a number of hours
The numbers just grew and grew!
–
It began with a Gum’s views on logging
And the state that the forests were in;
He wondered why trees were so powerless,
When an elderly Ironbark chipped in.
–
It seemed that an old Oak from England
Had been chatting with a Pine from Rome.
And in no time at all they agreed
That their fears weren’t confined to a zone.
–
“It’s the same the whole world over.”
Said a Dogwood right out of the blue.
And a Cypress and Peach, an Aspen and Beech
All had the same point of view.
–
As more and more trees came on line,
Across many a time zone and border;
The general air turned into despair
‘Til the Oak called them all into order.
–
“I suggest”, it said, with a tone quite dread
And an idea that really inspired,
“That we draw up a list, with nothing missed
Of the actions we think are required”.
–
“Some trees have leaves with a poison
They could drop as folk walk by”
The idea came from a Bonsai
Who could never be labeled as shy.
–
The Plane tree and Chestnut spoke up
With downed power lines that make quite a spark.
Sycamore and Holly thought the notion quite jolly
To leave lots of folk in the dark.
–
Cutting off water with roots in pipes
Was a Cottonwood’s favourite trick.
The Maple and Ash thought morale would crash,
So Magnolia and Cedar gave a tick.
–
The Apple and Linden came forth
With a plan to rot fruit as it grows.
The Alder and Hemlock liked the idea,
And the Willow would not oppose.
–
“A drive can be blocked”, said a Birch,
“With folks trapped to starve in despair.”
“This could be done”, said the Walnut and Plum
With the Persimmon, Hickory and Pear.
–
Cracking footings and bringing down buildings
Was a popular form of attack.
With Redwood and Cherry, Teak, Larch and Mulberry
All voting this way to pay back.
–
The Juniper thought dropping branches
Would knock off a few of their kind;
The Olive and Hawthorn saw merit in that
They had a similar notion in mind.
–
A Poplar proposed crushing by falling.
“You could take out a group to boot.”
The Fir and Pawpaw voted this way for sure,
With Spruce, Box and Elm following suit.
–
When the list was complete a seedling piped up.
“You want humans to do your bidding?
Despite your brave talk
And the problems you squawk,
And the ideas you hawk
I’m plagued with the thought…
Just who the hell are you kidding?”