My crime was pushing over the fence,
Tall trunk orange tree was a witness, not an accomplice,
Half-century hedge felled by chainsaw today.
Stood quietly in the rain, leaves shiny like stars above,
Roots recall earthquakes, branches reach out, veins filled with rainwater,
My crime was pushing over the fence,
Fought back, broke a chainsaw, caustic sawdust made them cough,
Remember when I was your jungle, your fort? we were playmates,
Half-century hedge felled by chainsaw today.
Visitors welcomed, spiders, squirrels, hungry sparrows,
Your dog slept at my shady feet, trusted me to guard buried bones,
My crime was pushing over the fence,
Spared the indignity of topiary, I complied with yearly trims,
The fence was already dead, but I flower, ivy between my toes,
Half-century hedge felled by chainsaw today.
The crows say the world is bigger than this sideyard,
Never to see over the house, got a glimpse of the neighbors roses,
My crime was pushing over the fence,
Half-century hedge felled by chainsaw today. 22 months ago