Cutting Down Trees

As kids we called it Springsure’s Hill,
A wonderful place to hone our skill,
Playing in scrub till light was gone
Hide and seek with my brother Ron.

We knew the birds; they knew us too,
Bellbird, Thornbill, Black Cockatoo,
Bandicoots strange digging habits,
Along the fence line trapping rabbits.

There is no sunrise on Springsure Hill,
But sunsets do my senses fill,
Every tree has an orange glow, 
Shroud of nightfall follows shadow.

Never ever thought I’d see the day,
When all that scrub was cleared away,
But I’m not to worry it will be fine.
On the hill they’re planting pine. 

They’re cutting down trees to plant more trees,
It don’t make sense until one sees,
How quick does grow this foreign pine,
Every row is a perfect line.

The hill grows lush and a sea of green,
With not a thing growing in between,
Dark and eerie, nothing more,
A blanket of needles on the floor.

Gone are the Goodia, the Correa, 
Heath, Tree Ferns and Grevillea,
Ragwort thrives on the outer fringe, 
Enough to make the farmer cringe.

They’re cutting down trees to plant more trees,
It don’t make sense until one sees,
Chainsaw, Log truck, Crane and Gantry,
Cutting down trees…commercially. 

I note the slope on Springsure’s Hill,
With rows of stumps and waiting till,
Scotch Thistle, Blackberry, sun and rain, 
Have Springsure’s Hill back green again.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Buck Avatar
May 11, 2015 at 9:18 PM
Lindsay: Be it evolution or creation, if pines should have grown there they would have. It's man's greed that overrules natures plan. It's man's "children" that will pay the price for our greed. You've done a wonderful job with this presentation. My favorite of your works is still: It's just a dog. :o) oldbuck
Babcock Avatar
March 20, 2015 at 5:06 PM
I think the forest are being cut down at a very fast rate and even with reforestation it will not grow fast enough. Sad to see the forests decline. love phyl
Laurie Avatar
March 21, 2015 at 2:58 AM
Hello Phyllis... thanks again for putting up a comment Phyllis. I believe that there is enough cleared land not being utilised now to stop more clearing of native vegetation. Humanity will suffer in the long run. Catch you soon Phyllis - Lindsay
Duggan Avatar
February 9, 2015 at 11:55 PM
Lindsay straight to the core of it, I love this one, so reminds me of when I was growing up among the trees and bush and then to see it all disappear , so sad, take care my friend and keep these Aussie poems coming...........Vera.............
Dunn Avatar
February 7, 2015 at 7:18 PM
Great work of eco art love your massage of imagery brilliantly put I'm a tree hugger myself, love this with pleasures depths of relish, cheri keep it up!
Laurie Avatar
February 9, 2015 at 6:21 PM
Thanks for stopping by Cheri with an encourageing comment. What upsets me more than anything is clear felling of native scrub that leaves a horrible scar and will never recover for the indigenous fauna. But the mighty dollar must rule - Regards - Lindsay
Curtis Avatar
February 4, 2015 at 5:22 AM
Very insightful poem Lindsay, many may think the man made forest aren't much different, than natural ones. The truth is, since the natural forest has now been transformed into a rather sterile tree farm, many animals and bird are unable to exist there. Great piece.
Laurie Avatar
February 4, 2015 at 4:51 PM
G'day Jerry... you are spot on and thank you for your comment. The eeriest times I have spent in the bush has been in a pine plantation. Nothing else grows there and there is a carpet of needles; and no wildlife... although black cockatoos have found a new food source on the outer foliage. Catch you soon Jerry - Lindsay
Pinet Avatar
February 3, 2015 at 8:51 PM
Your words paint the scene with descriptive moods that bring the essence of your experience into our conscious mind and we can walk in your shoes for a short time and feel what you feel. Your insecurity and misgivings about logging make themselves apparent in your poem. Emile.
Laurie Avatar
February 4, 2015 at 4:45 PM
G'day Emile... thanks for placing a comment. It's not so much the logging Emile, it's Radiata Pine that I see as the problem. Once its harvested, the soil is starved and native plants don't return, but boy oh boy, the weeds do. Radiata Pine is starting to become a noxious plant in Southern Victoria, but makes nice Christmas trees. Thank you once again Emile - Lindsay
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