progress requires
i take money for the trees
to be killed beside the road
so more cars can fit at once
   and
   surrender the land
to The People who are free
   to take it

there will be sidewalks
bike lanes and a new lane
for cars going either way
   my value will rise!
while the trees
far older than us
all must be removed

older than us except one:
the first one in the long
driveway which my dad
planted as a marker, the first
Christmas tree my first year
on Earth i grew up knowing
that despite its farther height
   (we will both) remain