The Cedar Tree Poem by Koffi B Sossou

And a day in summer, Colin and I decided to go for a hike
He drove me through the lovely wooded roads until we reached the park
We went down the hills and back to wee
We looked at the map and found the way to the trail
The trees in the woods are in harmony
We went up and down in the woods

Colin and I were running through the little rocky path
And we were rolling like a rolling stone
And I would tell Colin to watch out
Until we reached the Loop and moved on to the 500-year-old Cedar tree
He is tall and big, as big as heaven and earth
And he said he was there before the World War I and II.

And he shed hot tears which made a hole beneath him
And he advised us to choose Life and Immortality.
The old wise tree cleared his throat and spoke wisely again and again
And he talked about how his young fellows keep surviving
We saw some of his homies lying on the floor sleeping forever
And the old tree said he and others owed them.

You see them sleeping, and decomposing? He gently asked.
They sacrificed themselves to feed our soul and make us live.
Me and my homies produce the world's oxygen
I have a long life, but I will die someday
To be useful to unborn and malnourished children.
But I pity you human

You are arrogant, malicious, devilish and criminal!
What becomes of you after He calls for your breath?
Useless, scary
And they make a loan to bury you mummified
I wish you could humble yourself someday
And let peace be!