He’s seen boys march to war
And hobble back as men
His roots now grow red
In their memory
He’s faced the brittle saw
Of human greed
And once bore
The weight of an empire
Only to watch it fall
As he does
To the selfish axe
His branches
used to
Hang strangers for
Crimes he never
Even witnessed
His leaves whisper
Secrets through the wind
Whistling the tunes
Of forbidden lovers
And mans’ betrayals
His bark fills the playgrounds
Of our children, whilst his own
Are crushed, by the
Unforgiving pressure of mankind
And after all this,
All this pain for no reward
He welcomes
All to call him home.