The tree with leaves of fire
Stood in the centre of town
Our feet sunk into the muck and mire
We slowly sunk further down

The owl warned us with a shout
A snake with a benign hiss
We didn’t know what the fauna were on about
But this was one thing we could not miss

The moon floated in the sky of stars
Like a lost ship in the cold sea
We were brave like the settlers of Mars
Standing strong around the burning tree

One by one we began to sing
Quiet and then loud and proud
Grandma brought her sticks and string
And Grandpa watched from a silent cloud

Hand in hand we thought in voice
While the volcanic tree listened
We soldiered on: this wasn’t a choice
Our eyes were red and glistened

We confessed our wrongs
To the tree with leaves of fire
In somber sing-song
This must be done; we cannot afford to tire