Ash Dieback Disease Poem by Dean Bottomley

Beautiful it stood, and also tall;
Providing shade and fun for all.
Lovers had sheltered under its arms
And carved their names with little harm.

Children had climbed to lands anew
Risking, yet safe, as up they grew
Till they themselves lovers became
And then enjoyed another game.

Picnics and fun, games and love
From grass beneath to leaves above.
For years it stood on the village green
Loved by all and yet unseen.

But bourne on air as it does blow
This time no friend but deadly foe.
And slowly begins, from high in the sky,
As leaves turn brown, it starts to die.

There is no cure, no magic pill
That once prescribed could cure this ill.
The tree will die, but lingering long
Until the day it ends its song.

So the decision they must tell
Simply to save those that are still well.
The saw must bite, the tree must go
Although it’s right the hurt they know.

The Ash no more is seen each day
A blank where once we saw it sway.
The act was right, but at the end
It hurts so much to loose a friend.