print previewback STEVE SCAFIDI
The Felling
Clearing land for his father
and ordered to cut down
the horse chestnut tree
in full bloom with blossoms
like cream-colored torches
or candle lamps set at
the edges of the branches,
he pauses a moment
with the teeth of the saw
embedded enough to keep
the tool in place and thinks
of all that is just beginning
ending and cries through
the cutting as the saw
starts the zing and yaw
and the zing and yaw of
work that sings and calls
sings and calls until the tree
wavers and leans in the pause
and the boy backs off
as the tree cracks and keens
like a man just shot will stop
to look around as he falls
amazed leaning in the pause.