For Sister Elise Kriss
When I saw the fence around the old oak,
I thanked the Sister for saving the tree.
“Yes,”she said, “we intend to make a park
Next to the college’s new library.
Someday the two of us will sit under
Its branches and have a nice little talk.”
But on my street city workers sunder
An entire elm grove to make a sidewalk.
I asked the foreman, was it necessary?
He wiped the sawdust from his balding head
And said, “Why the heck are you asking me?”
He had a point — by then the trees were dead.
I told Sister I wouldn’t forget us
Getting together. There’s much to discuss.