03-17-2016, 05:42 AM
The Clearing
Edit 2
Just north of my house lay a little wood,
Ten acres packed with thorny scrub-oaks, wild,
Cut by a deep ravine. Town-bred, I could
Lose track and time there; forest-charmed I smiled.
Last week a yellow diesel Cat appeared,
Steel-taloned, dozer blade down at its head.
With screeching treads it twisted, struck, and reared,
Uprooting every tree alive or dead.
Now, oaks torn down, I see far neighbors where
My view was wooded; spacious houses rise.
Where squirrels rushed and owls would hoot and flare,
Near neighbors soon will share my emptied skies.
Some fuel and twenty tons of steel that roams
Did this - those and the yearning dream of homes.
Author’s note: It transpired that the new development was named “The Preserve at Oak Grove.” It has now been renamed “Nine Oaks.”
Edit 1
Just north of my house lay a little wood,
Ten acres packed with scrub-oaks, thorny, wild,
Cut by a deep ravine. Town-bred, I could
Lose track and time there; forest-glad I smiled.
Last week a yellow diesel Cat arrived,
Steel-taloned, dozer blade down at its head.
With screeching treads it lustily contrived
To uproot every tree alive or dead.
Now, oaks torn down, I see far neighbors where
My view was wooded; spacious houses rise.
Where squirrels rushed and owls would hoot and flare,
Near neighbors soon will share my emptied skies.
Some fuel and twenty tons of steel that roams
Did this - those and the yearning dream of homes.
Author’s note: It transpired that the new development was named “The Preserve at Oak Grove.” It has now been renamed “Nine Oaks.”
Original version;
To north of my house lay a little wood,
Perhaps ten acres thorny-vined and wild,
Cut by a deep ravine. Town-bred, I could
Oft lose myself in it, by paths beguiled.
Last week a yellow Caterpillar came
(A diesel “Cat” full-treaded, blade-equipped),
And with élan tornados put to shame,
Uprooting every tree with claws steel-tipped.
Now ‘cross a bough-heaped, roughly-graded field
I see, not far, discovered neighbors new.
Soon other houses planned will rise, revealed,
That nesting-place for bird or squirr’l hold few.
Some fuel and twenty tons of steel that roams
Did this - those and the yearning dream of homes.
Author’s note: It transpires that the new development is named “The Preserve at Oak Grove.” It has now been renamed “Nine Oaks.”
Edit 2
Just north of my house lay a little wood,
Ten acres packed with thorny scrub-oaks, wild,
Cut by a deep ravine. Town-bred, I could
Lose track and time there; forest-charmed I smiled.
Last week a yellow diesel Cat appeared,
Steel-taloned, dozer blade down at its head.
With screeching treads it twisted, struck, and reared,
Uprooting every tree alive or dead.
Now, oaks torn down, I see far neighbors where
My view was wooded; spacious houses rise.
Where squirrels rushed and owls would hoot and flare,
Near neighbors soon will share my emptied skies.
Some fuel and twenty tons of steel that roams
Did this - those and the yearning dream of homes.
Author’s note: It transpired that the new development was named “The Preserve at Oak Grove.” It has now been renamed “Nine Oaks.”
Edit 1
Just north of my house lay a little wood,
Ten acres packed with scrub-oaks, thorny, wild,
Cut by a deep ravine. Town-bred, I could
Lose track and time there; forest-glad I smiled.
Last week a yellow diesel Cat arrived,
Steel-taloned, dozer blade down at its head.
With screeching treads it lustily contrived
To uproot every tree alive or dead.
Now, oaks torn down, I see far neighbors where
My view was wooded; spacious houses rise.
Where squirrels rushed and owls would hoot and flare,
Near neighbors soon will share my emptied skies.
Some fuel and twenty tons of steel that roams
Did this - those and the yearning dream of homes.
Author’s note: It transpired that the new development was named “The Preserve at Oak Grove.” It has now been renamed “Nine Oaks.”
Original version;
To north of my house lay a little wood,
Perhaps ten acres thorny-vined and wild,
Cut by a deep ravine. Town-bred, I could
Oft lose myself in it, by paths beguiled.
Last week a yellow Caterpillar came
(A diesel “Cat” full-treaded, blade-equipped),
And with élan tornados put to shame,
Uprooting every tree with claws steel-tipped.
Now ‘cross a bough-heaped, roughly-graded field
I see, not far, discovered neighbors new.
Soon other houses planned will rise, revealed,
That nesting-place for bird or squirr’l hold few.
Some fuel and twenty tons of steel that roams
Did this - those and the yearning dream of homes.
Author’s note: It transpires that the new development is named “The Preserve at Oak Grove.” It has now been renamed “Nine Oaks.”
Non-practicing atheist