The tree remembers (a poem)

The axeman chopped through the woodland

The axeman chopped through the woodland Thinking only of his own ends

The axeman chopped through the woodland Thinking only of his own ends Of profit and grandeur and comfort

The axeman chopped through the woodland Thinking only of his own ends Of profit and grandeur and comfort With scant thought to make amends

His path was true and righteous

His path was true and righteous Of that, he was fully assured

His path was true and righteous Of that, he was fully assured The screams of the trees grew louder

His path was true and righteous Of that, he was fully assured The screams of the trees grew louder But their pain was completely ignored

One tree was hit with a glancing shot

One tree was hit with a glancing shot That the axeman barely intended

One tree was hit with a glancing shot That the axeman barely intended But deep it cut into the trunk

One tree was hit with a glancing shot That the axeman barely intended But deep it cut into the trunk So tender and undefended

The wound lingered in its rings

The wound lingered in its rings Stinging through the years

The wound lingered in its rings Stinging through the years The tree survived, but the mark remained

The wound lingered in its rings Stinging through the years The tree survived, but the mark remained Where it cried its amber tears

One day the axeman returned to the tree

One day the axeman returned to the tree For shade on a scorching day

One day the axeman returned to the tree For shade on a scorching day But the tree recoiled its leaves

One day the axeman returned to the tree For shade on a scorching day But the tree recoiled its leaves And bid him not to stay

The axeman started to holler

The axeman started to holler He couldn't understand

The axeman started to holler He couldn't understand The tree pointed to his scar

The axeman started to holler He couldn't understand The tree pointed to his scar With a leafy, branchy hand

The axeman couldn't recall

The axeman couldn't recall The time he'd hit that sensitive spot

The axeman couldn't recall The time he'd hit that sensitive spot But oh how the tree remembers

The axeman couldn't recall The time he'd hit that sensitive spot But oh how the tree remembers What the axeman long forgot