In Arizona’s Petrified Forest

 

Petrified—

Once branches swayed, but now they’ve

Ossified.

Were trees to talk they might have

Testified

That though they lived, they’ve fallen

Down and died.

Turned to stone—

Once-living cells are rock, no longer

Flesh and bone.

Were bells to ring they might a

Dirge intone

For trees and birds and elk that now are

Dead and gone.

 

Full of change—

Time travels on and we must

Rearrange

Our minds so we adjust and

Then exchange

Things past for what is still

Within life’s range.