The Rise and Fall of Empires

An empire rises, When the trees are in their prime, Until axes can be heard ringing all the time, And the waters start to rise above the plimsoll line An empire dies, When the old men of the forest, Are cut down with the rest, Leaving the sun to do the rest. When the sun has done its job, And the water level drops, Enough to see the mountain tops, Up another forest pops. I hope the next time an empire rises, And before the sound of axes becomes too loud, The people will think it sound, To keep a few trees around. Of course a sun hat or two, May be needed, So planting of trees between axe strokes is not impeded, By Sunstroke that has gone unheeded.