Two trees stood side-by-side in serenity

They were young oaks with full lives ahead of them

They were surrounded by other young trees of many kinds

They had no idea of the fate that would befall them

 

A man walked from a logger's village not too far away

A cold, fresh wind made the oblivious young trees sway

The first of the trees cast her shade over him

They had no idea of the fate that would befall them

 

An arctic smile that the tree did not see crossed the man's face

He imagined how he could use this marvelous being;

It's fresh young wood would make good kindling

They had no idea of the fate that would befall them

 

With a swing of his axe, the tree realized his intent

Her heart shattered as he tore her fine trunk to shreds

So he could soothe his desire to warm himself with her fire

She had no idea of the fate that would befall her

 

For years after her sisters had been dragged away,

The second tree still grew in the forest, until one day, 

When a man traveled from a village, not too far away

She had no idea of the fate that would befall her

 

He observed the birds that took shelter in her branches,

And her acorns that nourished hungry, homeless squirrels,

And the shade she shared with deer with sun-baked hides

She had no idea of the fate that would befall her

 

"What a pinnacle of life!" the young man cried

He dug out her roots, without breaking any of them

The tree found a new home in his garden, under his utmost care

She had no idea of the fate that would befall her

 

For the rest of her days, she was watered every day

And provided a place for the man's children to play

She lifted her branches every sunrise to the light of new day

She had no idea that this fate could befall her