Veronika Winkels: ‘The Magnolia Tree’
The Magnolia Tree
They felled the beautiful magnolia tree
When they extended the home.
Why couldn’t they leave the garden be?
That tree was replaced by a garage, see?
At least two camellias went as well,
But worse, they felled the magnolia tree.
Why not build “up”, why outwardly?
(If they had to extend at all,)
But why couldn’t they leave the garden be?
Did the apple and the orange make their plea,
And the hills hoist—all destroyed,
When they felled the magnolia tree?
My son—he’s five— he then was three,
Recalls and is sad by what he sees;
Oh why couldn’t they leave the garden be?
Had we not rented but owned that home
Before their renovations moved us on,
I would have left the garden be.
It wasn’t right to fell the magnolia tree.
Veronika Winkels
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