I fell seven trees today.  I used an electric chain saw and had the help of my neighbour Wayne.   Three of the trees were already dead.   The rest had the misfortune to have lived in unfortunate locations with regrettable pruning .  They died quietly if indeed they are dead.

Well, I do believe that the standing dead ones are actually dead at this moment.  But what of the ones that were obviously alive.  There needles are still green as they lay in the cold field.  Is the sap still running in the outer layers.  Is the heartwood  still wet?

Did they really die silently or are they respiring still, like a fish the continues to heave long after it is out of the water?  Do they fall without a sound or are their screams so shrill that our ears cannot hear them?

Can dogs hear the screams of trees?  Tree savants?   Other trees?  Are the surrounding trees even now uttering words of comfort to the wounded fallen?  Are the sobbing, unheard by uncaring ears?

Does a tree think?  Does it perceive me when I am limbing and bucking the fallen?

Does it have regard for the stacking of wood?

Can a tree sense smoke from a wood fire?   Is it like smell to a tree?  Are thousands of trees standing  , rooted in horror?

these trees were dead, ugly or inconvenient.   I did not want them for firewood, although they will be used as such.   The dead ones were blocking our view of the sunset.

Is there karma for choppers of trees?  A hell where we (ironically?) burn forever?

This is not the time for gnashing of teeth over a few trees.  I enjoyed doing it.  I enjoyed seeing them fall.  I said I did not like killing trees but I was quite satisfied at my success,

It turns out that this has not been about trees at all.  It is about my guilt.  Or lack of