Pine Away

By luigi_pagano

Thu, 02 Dec 2021
  • 851 reads
8 comments
 

The umbrella pine, it seems,
is sadly going out of fashion;
for that supreme, iconic, tree
I feel distress and compassion.

This plant that was also known
by the name Italian Stone Pine,
stood since ancient times
on the bay of Naples like a shrine

till it was felled thirty years ago
infected by a conifer seed bug.
People who loved that fine wood
must've felt a painful heart tug.

It is not the only location affected,
it is reported that precious trees 
are disappearing fast everywhere
and this fills me with deep unease.

The pine that J. W. Turner painted
in Orvieto is no longer extant;
the umbrella canopy of La Spezia,
was also deemed to be redundant. 

Architects and modern planners 
replace long-established vegetation
with monstrous concrete blocks
that spoil the beauty of the nation.

Due to neglect or sheer vandalism,
for ancient forestry dangers loom
and because I am a nature lover
I hate to be a messenger of doom.

Let's halt this wanton denigration,
put a stop to all nonsensical fads,
restore tranquillity and harmony
and be at one with the Dryads.

 
© Luigi Pagano 2021 

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Rant
Nature

Comments

Submitted by David Kirtley on

Great poem! It really does take us to the scenes of these magnificent trees, gone or still present, and to Italy! I like the last verse about restoring harmony and being at one with the Dryads!

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I am much obliged to you, David, for the positive feedback to my lamentation about the gradual loss of valued trees.

Best, Luigi

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hear! Hear Luigi,

we need more trees for so many reasons. I can imagine it was devastating for tree lovers of the area to watch the Italian Stone Pine which stood the test of time, have to be cut down because it had been infected by a conifer seed bug. 

You describe very well your own sadness in this poem and pay tribute to this tree in your own expressive way.

More power to the trees.

Jenny. xx

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Jenny, that particular tree was cut down because it was infected but nothing was done until recently to replace it. Other trees, although still young healthy and not past their 'sell by' date have been sacrificed in the name of urban progress or, unbelievably, for political correctness as they were planted during a despised regime. 

Luigi xx

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

That's terrible Luigi, I had no idea...really makes me sad sad when even young trees don't get a chance. Makes me wonder why they bothered planting them in the first place. I think these people in charge should consider planning more carefully before giving life just to take it away.

Sorry I'll get off my soap box now.

Jenny. xx

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

We can both share that soapbox, Jenny. angry

Luigi xx

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I never thought the day would come where I would need to own a chainsaw, but it has. When I first became responsible for a big wild country garden it had many dead or diseased trees which I had to cut down, filling me with sadness. But I got the complete opposite feeling as I planted new trees, many of which I grew from seeds. I'm probably too old to see them fully mature but they're getting there and I get such a buzz from planting something that hopefully future generations will enjoy. 

I enjoyed reading your poem from which I could feel your own sadness at the felling of trees and the worry of what will replace them. I wish more people cared as much as you do and expressed their feelings to share with others. The more we talk about it, the more chance there is of reversing the trend. 

Turlough

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Turlough. I appreciate that we have to chop diseased trees that are beyond salvation but there are others that are felled for different reasons, i.e. to clear the ground to make arable land, to create plots for house building especially on green fields or to make way for a railway route like HS2.
As you rightly say new saplings are being planted but we won't be able to see them reach the same level of maturity as the ones that have been lost. Perhaps we should have planned earlier for replacing the likely casualties.
Thanks for your apposite comment.

Best, Luigi