Sheila's Dribs 'n Drabs

The land was shaped by nature, say The man is part of nature, say The land was shaped by man this way Then torn apart.

In muddy marsh and shore remember Trees protected once, dismembered Burned for warmth then marsh and shore Yielded their seed no more Till we Remembered.

Trees in the water Are feet of the world, Branches curling To tree-sons and daughters. They’re praying we’ll save them Redeem human treason And live.

Emily gave names to her apple trees. “Lady Alice” had fruit peach-colored and sweet, blushing redly under the sun. “Uncle Tom” bore a crop with tiny red specks like dust. “Peter Piper’s” crop were tiny and green, slightly sour with sugar behind. And “Spiderman” bore juicy globes knit together by spiders in the night. They must have liked the taste. They had real names, but all Emily knew was they bore sweet fruit like none she could find in stores. When she talked to them, her neighbors called her a witch. But they don’t burn witches anymore, just apple trees.