They Say

A Poem by Michael Hof

A fable

They say at night
that the trees gain might

Collecting nourishment throughout the day
They walk about scream and shout
In a most peculiar way:

"Hallooo hallllay bring forth the day"
They force the nightmares away

For the night breeds terror
Most mortals would surely surrender

Not the trees
when they bend their knees

Removing their roots
they begin to scoot

They dance with the breeze
Of course, they are trees

And as they prance
the sun takes a glance

He opens his eyes
He's ready to rise

The darkness skulks away
Hiding again, for they can not defend
Against the smile of the morning day

The trees return home
Tired from their roam

And all of us misers
are none the wiser

That's what they say anyway …