“The Sentinel” by Steven Chabot

The Sentinel

Silent sentinel, with outstretched arms, cragged skin worn by the wind and the sun. Oh, what history you have seen, as a witness to life that swirls around you. Never complaining you stay at your post, like a soldier guarding his sleeping comrades. Your feet planted firmly upon the ground, your deep roots sustain you and anchor you there. Small creatures and songbirds find shelter in you, the shadow you cast helps us stay cool When days grow short and cooler too, you show out in colorful garb Arrayed in splendor for all to see, you prepare for the winter ahead Nights grow longer and frost appears, your life is stripped away Quiescent friend, I long to see you teem with life again And clean the air now poisoned by the arrogant folly of man We need your help to cool the earth, that we have so distressed As Greta Thunberg said of us, when Congress she addressed “I know that you are trying, but just not hard enough.” Watch over us silent sentinel, through winter weather hang tough I pray you prosper again with springs tears. That you and your family help squelch Greta’s fears.