An Ode To A Tree – Begging Mother Nature for Forgiveness

Oh tree,

Hear my plea,

Forgive me for what I’m about to do,

But I really need to pee.

I do not mean to desecrate,

Your wondrous and holy state,

But I’ve left this far too late,

To find a place that’s clean.

I still admire you, green and tall,

How you’ve watched your brothers fall,

At the hands of men who use wood to build and grow,

Regardless of Mother Nature’s woe.

I respect your beautiful and strange land,

But tree, I don’t think you understand,

How hard the quest to find a place that’s clean,

Out here in an African Village Green.

So please Mother, forgive my sin,

But Nature calls –

And we can’t both win!

02/07/06

This poem was written whilst I was travelling in Ghana last year. I think you can guess what inspired me :P They definitely need to work on their plumbing (among many other things!).

I have also used it in a documentary I am making, so please let me know what you think of it. I don't want to put bad rhyme in (what I hope will be) a good piece of film!