The ashes of England

Imports of ash trees to be banned - but is it too late?

The Telegraph, 25 October 2012

Our native ash stands vigilant,

within its moat of deadened earth

its demi-shadow seeps like damp,

as dappled and long over moor

as when spilled into forest glade;

and while English children

gather up acorns and conkers

and gardeners cotyledons

from regal oaks, horse chestnuts,

sycamores, strong men succumb

beneath the ubiquitous ash without

ever knowing its common name,

and are buried in coffins of elm

cut long before gatecrashers razed

English elm to a state of fine ash.

(c) 2012 Slush Poet