Pedagogic
by Cirilo Bautista
I walked towards the falling woods
to teach the trees all that I could
of time and birth, the language of men,
the virtues of hate and loving.
They stood with their fingers flaming,
Listened to me with a serious mien:
I knew the footnotes, all the text,
my words were precise and correct-
I was sure that they were learning-
till one tree spoke, speaking in dolor,
to ask why I never changed color.
