A City Tree Is An Elegant Tree



There’s elegance in a small pale tree

That grows from its specially selected

Department of Urban Development site,

With a half-foot trunk growing

Through a grate peculiarly designed for it.

This is especially true if it tops out

Just below the artificial heaven

Of a parapet on a second floor.

Such a tree displays latent bonsaism,

And its middle trunk will show the earholes

Left by longgone limbs.

But its top branches will be like a spinster aunt’s hair,

Sticking out a little wild,

But not presuming to take up too much space.

The trimmers will not need to visit a tree like that very often,

Because it is an elegant, graceful tree,

And elegance is content in her station.