May 26, 1996 and Jonathan is 16, distraught at the 350 year old, old growth forest that has been cleared to make way for E-470 at Smoky Hill Road.
The Men Came
by Jonathan Kraft
The men came
to take down
the trees.
It is not that
they want to,
(At least I hope that it isn’t.)
It’s merely their job.
So this is what it comes down to,
People who don’t understand
And care
even less?
They come with their
saws, their equipment, and
their attitude of ignorance
and indifference.
They don’t understand,
They don’t care,
And it’s sad.
If they’d open their eyes
past the ignorance and indifference,
they would not take their bow to the trees,
but instead would bow to the trees.
It has become appallingly clear
That our technology
has surpassed our humanity
and that perfection cannot
be classified as perfection
because when it is,
it ceases to be.
I remember when you wrote this poem as the trees came down to make way for E470. That was really hard to see and still makes me feel sad, even though we travel that highway daily now. Crazy!
I have vivid memories of how muddy the field became after the trees were gone… I stepped on a stump because the mud was so thick on my shoes, and got stuck in the massive amount of sticky sap that the tree had released in a futile attempt to heal or protect itself.
I sometimes think about that forest while driving through there.
Thank-you for reading and commenting!