….ricocheted off the mountains at noon hour
through the brick streets of the tiny mining town
so meanly it whiplashed the cheeks
of supper bound folks
….uprooted the huge ancient tree
that had stood so proudly for ages
on his front lawn,
blocked the street midway
disrupting traffic
….poured himself a drink,
circled the mess several times,
convinced himself he’d been
cheated by God
NEXT MORNING
….he mounted a cardboard sign
four foot by four,
against the tree’s fallen crown,
slashed jet black words on it
with a wide brush in tall letters:
“FREE FIREWOOD
BRING YOUR OWN
DAMN SAW”