One Tin Soldier:

The poem is named after a song in which only one soldier walks away from a fool's war; the poem is inspired by the millions of acres of concrete we are covering the world with, and taking down the trees to do so; the one tree is hope!

ONE TIN SOLDIER

(LIGNUM MEMORIAM)

Cars and trucks line the sidewalk.

Testament to the work ethic of any where industries.

I slowly make my way down the packed road,

Surrounded by the industrial might latent...

Waiting for the slumber of muscle to waken, once..

Plans for the day are finalized and..

Disseminated to the waiting concrete soldiers with their tools of creation dug up from soil, earth and rocks,

loam and water..

The blood and soul of our world..

Crafted in oh so many ingenious ways to use in building...

... and destroying..

We are stumbling gnats,

Painting our Madonna with stiff brushes,

In garish hues...

In our wee little minds we are the Colossus awakened,

Remaking the world in our image,

Tearing down walls of green,

Replace them with walls of gray!

And we pat ourselves and...

Give away awards to honor the most beautiful gray walls ever erected!

We are proud in our accomplishments as the air..

It too, turns gray to match the world we have envisioned...

... have created...

I drive slowly past the file of somnolent metal conveyances in wonder at that I see..

and in the middle of it all..

stands one lone tree!

PEACE

I was listening to this song, "Good Night Moon" from Kill Bill and it just went so beautifully with it that I recommend it. Enjoy.