Earth's Dominion

they clipped the forest low this winter

toppled trees to make a park of eerie woods

left only rotting stumps, ripe with wood ants

where once were homes of jays and owls

this is earth’s dominion now

where once it was sky’s

were the trees hollow before they fell?

was this more a mercy than an execution?

was this done with dignity,

with proper rites and speeches

a deal struck between the elements?

I’m left to wonder

as I pick and pry at her bones

peeling long splinters and earthy chunks

rousing insect swarms

scrambling mad that I’ve cut the line

making my ruin before they’ve made theirs