War and Love/A Young Tree

by Richard Aldington

 

A YOUNG TREE

(FOR J. W.)

There are so few trees here, so few young trees,
That Fate might have been merciful
And turned aside the shock of flame
That strewed your branches on the torn-up earth,
Ending the joy we had in your fresh leaves.

And every dear young lad that's killed
Seems to cry out:
"We are so few, so very few,
Could not our fate have been more merciful?"