The Destruction and Creation of Williamson Creek
As I walk along the woodchip-strewn path

I gaze about the work that we have done –
Hundreds of invasives chipped in a week
Opening the forest floor to the sun.
Our trail will be the pride of this city
The families living nearby will agree
But what about the ones who lived here once
That made their homes within ligustrum trees?
Traces of people kicked out earlier
Branches bent to build their only shelter
We took it all apart and chopped it up
Just so we could make this place look better.
Maybe some day they’ll see the work we did
And walk along this same path that I do
The ecosystem thanks us for the change
I hope the old inhabitants will, too.