one by one, the beech trees fell

i have lived at this grove all my life
the beautiful trees have always lined the roads
the beech trees even lined the drive to our home

everything was blooming by the end of May
when you came in from the coast to our home
and the war didn't touch here

could hear noise in the distance one morning
he told me some trees have been already been felled
on the General Field Marshall's urgent orders

Rommel was sure an attack was imenent
they couldn't leave trees for enemy hideouts
and so they feel our trees, one by one

looked out the front door, saw our stripped land
these trees had souls, and no one mourns
the loss of a species alive on this land longer than we

they didn't do this everywhere:
i hear they left some trees up in fields
so glider planes would be destroyed while landing

what lives are worth saving, i thought
as the soldiers were doing their job
after the beech trees fell