Contrast of Nature and Man

Yesterday
as I walked down the street
I noticed
the beauty of contrast.

Majestic green Cypresses
An exploding white Bradford Pear
and lacey red buds of a Maple
were overlapping each other.

I stopped after I passed
Turned around
Drank deep of silent glory
and shot a photo of nature’s riches.

Today
as I walked down the street
I noticed
the ugliness of contrast.

The Cypresses and towering Bradford Pear tree
were all missing.
Standing in their place, instead
were four stumps and a man raking fallen white petals.

“Hello! What happened?!” I asked with alarm.
“They came today to cut them all down.”
“So, you didn’t like these trees?”
I asked the obvious.

“Nah, they make a mess in the yard
and in the fall, you’ve got leaves to rake.”
“True,” I admitted, still in shock...
glad and sad for my (now “memorial”) photo.

“I may get rid of the Maple, too.
The roots get into the plumbing, ya’ know...
Nice to meet you!” he said,
as I waved and walked away, speechless.

© 2023 gratefulsue
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