12
Lamentations
John Bacher
Oh, Niagara Falls
What have developers done to thee
Why does is not trouble thee.
For the day of the rat is at hand
Deep and extremely bitter
Thou has cut down
The mighty oaks
Of the great forest
Where dwells the
Great Horned Owl
And the Sharp Shinned Hawk
That long ago
North of Oldfield Road
Perched in vanished oaks
Soaring above vernal pools
Swooped down and devoured
Infested rats.
Thou has stripped the hawthorns of the Savannah
That sheltered the Long-tailed Weasel
Which hunted down the Norway Rat
Building huge stores of food
For future feeding.
Thou has drained vernal pools
That gave birth to frogs and salamanders
Thou hast still their joyful song