Trees at a Parking Lot

Standing evenly spaced
in line, at attention.
Sporting gnarled crew cuts,
unruliness untolerated
and boundaries maintained.

The trees were deprived of soul,
strength,
and self-confidence.

Sitting high atop one,
a collection of carefully placed branches,
Stubborn to the shouting wind.

Signs of life that would be had
if the birds were back
to spread like lice
from tree to tree
and crew cut to crew cut.