I traveled to a land of trees
As summer turned to fall
I shivered in the biting breeze
That warned of winter's pall

I spoke to every tree I met
And every fallen leaf
The wind they said had not blown yet
Much so to their relief

They swayed together all as one
And shared a common fear
With roots so deep they could not run
As winter winds drew near

I tried to reassure my friends
Each year begins anew
The Earth will surely make amends
To every one of you

I spoke to what I knew of change
And what I knew of spring
But something in the air seemed strange
There tolled a plaintive ring

And then I saw what troubled me
In this dear painted wood
A plague infected every tree
Where once they proudly stood