We pine trees lock branches
in unity, protest chain
against the feral wind.
Our tree lover friends,
ones who let us down,
leave us to fight
alone. Canopies collapsed,
deflated lungs in a screaming match,
we are left mute.
Occasionally, we sacrifice
one of our own (for the cause)
just to see terror in a human face
as a dissident lands
on their car, their grass,
their beloved children.
Grandmother died at the battle
of the Walmart parking lot.
Today we sing, hymns to her
and other brave loblollies
who've lost their lives. We demonstrate,
drop our prenatal cones
on human heads--
abortions for righteousness.
We stick our cloddy feet under
sidewalks, foundations, and into sewers
to tear apart what we can,
knowing it's never enough.
Human hears wind whispering,
softly through needled branches.
He marvels at nature, the suburbs,
imprisons our family in fences.
Deaf, he misses our rallying shouts,
"Hell no! We won't go!"
before one of us crashes
across his house.
© 2003 Jason C. Jones