….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”