Reflections on a blustery day
(or The tree that fell quite suddenly) [1993]

i saw a woman today.
her eyes were not quite right.
she walked kind of funny
and people chuckled at the sight.

they shook their heads
and let the others lend a hand,
standing at safe distance
in the midst of that macabre band.

oh, to be the almighty,
felling trees on the innocent,
rewarding the corrupt,
ever punishing the well-meant.

oh, to have all power
to crush the tender woman child
and leave the errant
to run rampant and defiled.

there lies the maple
that started this whole mess
cries the crippled
to the fireman who must confess

that in his tragic world
he's seen quite a few oddities
but never in his life
such a freakish sort of tragedy

and i take my place on the sidewalk,
shudder beneath the tree
plunge my hands in pockets,
and be glad that it's not me.