Saws

Creative Forums Creative Writing
1

Saws
by D.C. Smith

To think that Joyce Kilmer lived in awe
Of what I cut down with my saw.

A saw that did quickly cut
Into the tree a gaping rut.

A saw that through the bark did flay
Then cut supporting wood away.

A saw whose hungry teeth did bite,
So now the tree is no more upright.

Upon the ground the oak does lay.
Resident squirr’ls have run away.

Poems are written by Joyce and me,
Then printed on paper made of tree.

2

The poem is a parody of “Trees”, a sacred cow of a poem that I and several million other American school children had to memorize.
Here’s a link to the original:

bartleby.com/104/119.html

The irony that the work was printed on paper (until recent options opened up, anyway) seemed to have escaped the young and earnest Mr. Kilmer.
Anyway, “Trees” was lodged in my head, and this is an expurgation.