Day 10: Treasure Trees

I subbed for a "Woods Technology" teacher today (AKA: "Wood shop"). The students watched wood-related videos in each class, and I got to thinking.

This is really more of an educational poem for elementary students (despite the fact that I was in a high school today), so think of it from that perspective rather than comparing it to Joyce Kilmer, okay? And I'm not sure poems are allowed to have postscripts, but this one does.

Treasure Trees
By Batsheva 12/11/09

A house, a desk, a baseball bat
Once lived in trees.
Now think of that!
The pencil that you use to write
Held sleeping birds
In nests at night.
The table where you eat each day
Was home to happy squirrels at play.
Even the chair you're sitting on
Has served as shelter
For a fawn.

Yet there are many other reasons
Trees are treasures
For all seasons.

Apple, cherry, plum, or pear--
Fruits are another
Gift they share.

Their roots drink water,
Preventing flood.
Without them,
We'd be stuck in mud.

There's even more!
Would you believe
They give us pure, fresh air
To breathe?
To be a little more specific,
Trees make oxygen--
Terrific!

And it just would not be right
To forget the sheer delight
Of simply looking at a tree.
But when you look,
Make sure you see
The wonder that a tree can be!

P.S. Remember this
(You should):
A Tree is so much more
Than wood.

(And if you ever cut down trees,
Always plant replacements, please.)