I Saw the Trees Laughing

I SAW THE TREES LAUGHING I saw the trees laughing at the wind as it passed by. They were whispering jokes to each other, I’m almost sure. Their arms started flailing as the jolly rumble began in the trunk; A timber tickle sent through a barky throat that shivered Leading to the double-over, barrel-rolling laughter. Tell me you’ve heard the creaking bellow in your ears, too, And these are not more wild thoughts leaking from mad places. Tell me you’ve seen their frozen faces, the many races, The Standing People of older nations alive but in peril. Laugh now, before the chainsaw banter and ‘Timber!’ throes. Makes me wonder how they can laugh at all.