Sequoia

Born to a land unspoiled and free The mighty sequoia was on the ascendancy Ancient elders stood erect and proud Free from threats to pierce a cloud Out of nowhere came a destructive presence Little creatures with a cold, dark luminescence So naive to think I’d thrive forever Not anticipating this new dawn of endeavour They tunnelled through a living tree Without any care for his dignity A gaping hole in a living creature Then they drove machines through their latest feature I’ve seen great change, seen it all Seen them rise and felt us fall They now stand before me, danger’s afoot A sense of inevitability as they deepen the cut Suddenly, I begin to tilt and sway Never to see another earthly day Then I creak, crack and splinter This old giant has had his final winter My brothers and sisters silently scream Man has taken me down, a familiar theme They have risen to conquer this vast frontier Now I’ve sadly succumbed to the tip of their spear