Yellow in Peril

FOR MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY

YELLOW IN PERIL

Like troops lined up to meet the foe

The taxis stand in the watery flow.

Paintwork unblemished, a brilliant yellow

Each one the copy of its yellow fellow.

They have survived Nature at its worst,

The wind, the waves, the great cloud-burst.

Soon they'll be on the road again

And New York will forget the rain.

*

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TUMBLING TIMBERS

(And then there were none.)

Oh tallsome trees! Thy branches made

A wondrous avenue of shade!

For eighty years thy leaves beguiled

And all the grateful citizens smiled.

On summer days thy shadow spread,

Echoing the greenery overhead,

And fountains played as people strolled,

Saying 'What wonder to behold!'

Thy trunks were sturdy, thy roots were deep!

*

Where once we laughed we now must weep.

Farewell Old Trees! For now you're humbled

And even the mightiest has tumbled.

*