From a tree to a carver

Carver, keep your chainsaw and your chisel from this wood.

It took centuries of craftsmanship to make me look this good.

Mother Nature slowly sculpted me out of genetic clay

and you could add nothing to me; you could only take away;

you could only, once you’d cut me down, causing distress and hurt

make a mockery of life out of the severed and inert.

Keep your rhinos carved from rhino horn and rugs of tiger skin

life’s a work of art already and to deface it, a sin.

Have you never seen my leaves light up like Mona Lisa’s smile?

There’s no object in the world to compare with my grace and style

and please consider this too, that I’m a living thing with needs

so put down your chisel, please my friend;

pick up a trowel and plant some seeds.