Saplings

Saplings Saplings die strange deaths. Mowed over by cars who’ve lost their minds. Beaten by the rain. Shot through with hailstones. Leaves stripped by the wind. Fractured limbs tore off and hurled to the ground. Tagged! Saplings suffer here. Chaff and choke on carbon. Slaughtered by untrained children. Disrespected by male dogs. Bent low by the occasional whirlwind of life. Shocked by the sudden pop, pop sound. Stunted in growth by lead moist air then fired as kindling. Dead saplings smolder with embers that carry enough heat to make heads turn asking, “Where are those sapling trees?” What kind of shade would they have given? and saying, “Those trees mattered!” 4/25/18