The Weary Birch

• Chloe Kummer, Grade 7, Karabar High School
• Poetry
• 2010

Finalist in the 'Something With Bite 2010' competition

A sentinel watching the winter sun
A bitter totem standing alone
Seeing what only humans could have done
As tired winds cry and moan

A last survivor of a battle of will
The single sapling weeps to the sky
A poignant quiet no birdsong would fill
On a battle field where mangled corpses lie

As day does break on the empty land
It lights up the place of horror and fear
All forest destroyed by mans greedy hand
She in her fiery mantle sheds a silvery tear

The tree then sees his hallowed home
In fury shakes at heavens tall
In sorrow slumps where ants do roam
And upon the ground a leaf does fall.