More than half of native European trees face extinction, warns study

THECOUNTINGHOUSE (September 27)

Tomorrow Europe will not see

the same variety of tree

they today in Europe see.

Ash and elm and rowan trees

swaying gently in the breeze

may succumb to some disease.

If pollution fails to kill 'em

the changing clime will do 'em in

leaving deserts for our children.

Well, so what? To hell with them.

Do trees serve a useful purpose?

Do trees turn a profit?

What's the point of having trees?

Who cares if we stop it?

So there will be fewer birds,

amphibs, reptiles, mammals.

These are things that no one eats.

And deserts do have camels!

This is just a false alarm

or should I say another?

Hey, tree-hugger, “Buy the farm,

Nature's not my Mother!”

Mining, lumber, manufacture,

technology make money.

Killing Bambi in the wood

would, I think, be funny.

Plus for those with allergies

trees are like to make you sneeze,

so you must excuse me, please,

when I say to hell with trees.