Felling the Tree
Today my eyes teared over
as they bulldozed the tree
in the undeveloped lot next door.
It had to be cut.
A house was being built there and
aside from the trash it dropped,
It blocked the view.
Always the one to get his point across,
“I’ll tell you what,”
the contractor said,
“I’ll dig it up and plant it in your yard.”
But I didn’t want the mess of it, either.
I wanted the tree next door
where I could see it
without dealing
with the fluff in my pool,
the pods falling off.
That tree was a resting place for birds
which I said good by to
along with the tree.
Then, while I was at it,
I said good by to my cat
who had drowned in the pool
a week before.
Good by to my husband
who had hoped to see that tree
and the view around it
every day for the rest of his life.
Good by to my mother,
who passed onto me
her love of trees.
Good by
to all loved creatures
recently gone.
The tree was gone in a minute,
along with dry bushes, weeds.
The back hoe scraped the soil over
Coke cans, water bottles,
plastic flowerpots and chips wrappers—
the detritus from houses on each side,
as well as evidence of years of workers
who sat in the shade of the lot for lunch.
For a year or two
of privacy lost, calm shattered,
peace surrendered,
I would get new neighbors,
perhaps a friend.
Clouds of dust billowed
over my newly painted wall.
They’d repaint the wall
and plant new trees,
the builder promised,
as they bulldozed all.
Judy,
My condolences on the loss of your cat and all of the losses you are mourning. Peace, be still!
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Regina, that poem was written about losses from 19 years ago, but as it turns out, I’ve had a number this past year as well. It’s the way of life…must be dealt with.
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You did not say “this is not real”, so did you really lose that beautiful cat last week, are you really going to get close new neighbors~? Tell us the back story of your poetry this time~!!! Sounds too real~!
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A beautiful, mourning poem, Judy.
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Very well done. I’m glad to see the wounds aren’t recent. It’s hard to see trees come down.
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Thanks sharing this beautiful poem Judy.. I should copy this as we lost our doggie a year ago.
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That is the biggest compliment.
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🥰🥰
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Beautiful poem of losses
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Many thanks, Lauren.
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I’m going through a similar change. When they took down the tree that the eagle loved to perch in and scream down at me, it broke my heart. Beautiful poem.
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Oh no. I love watching eagles and hawks. That would be heartbreaking.
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Tears, nothing but tears, and, no matter how many, the tree no longer needs water.
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Did you ever see my house when it was an empty lot next door?
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Always sad to see a tree disappear, for whatever reason. Talented transition from the loss of the tree, to other great losses in your life. Heartbreaking but so beautifully crafted. 💔
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Thanks, Michele…
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It breaks one’s heart to see nature being destroyed too make way for man. Lovely poem Judy
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The law here is if you cut down a tree, you have to plant one. Don’t think the contractor probably does, but my tree guys always do. Part of the service.
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That should maintain the balance.
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Judy such a touching poem. I remember house sitting for you in November that year, hearing all the noise, and laughter, as the men worked in the vacant lot. Felt sorry for you that you were going to have to lose a vacant lot to new neighbors. Also saw and heard them planting and pulling two palm trees upright amid much grunting straining and laughter. Who would have imagined that we would be moving into the new construction the following September, before it was actually completely finished?Loved the house, the view and our lovely neighbor, Judy Dykstra-Brown.
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And thanks, dear friend, for completing that story and giving it a happy ending.
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Your personal Giving Tree. Sad to see it go, and yet, it may produce a new lifelong friend. 🙂
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It did. Two of them, and then two more.
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Sending love and hugs to you from Huntsville, but I can see you and our beautiful houses and views from here.❤️😘
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I’m in Phoenix now.. having just slept 4 hours after going 24 hours without. Yawn.
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That’s awesome. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
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