#questionsfordaddy

[poetrythreesixfive]

The Trees

Why do the leaves fall?

Because they’re tired, honey.

Why are they tired?

Because they’ve been working all year.

Doing what?

Shading you from the sun.

Is that all?

That’s a lot, trust me.

What else do they do?

They turn sunlight into energy

and carbon dioxide into oxygen.

What does that mean?

It means they’re really, really important.

Then why do people cut down trees?

Usually it’s because they’re in the way.

What would happen if we cut all the trees?

We would die.

Just us or everybody?

Everybody.

Then why do people cut down trees?

That, my dear, is an excellent question.

[poetrythreesixfive]

One and All

Why is the grass green? she asked.

Because it’s God’s favorite color, I said.

How do you know? she asked.

Well, look around, I said. There’s so much of it.

What if you live out in the ocean? she said,

wouldn’t it be blue?

My answer: True.

And if you lived in the north pole,

wouldn’t it be white?

Quite right.

And what if you lived in the desert?

Wouldn’t God’s favorite color then be brown?

Yes it would.

What if you lived in outer space? What about then?

It would be black, I suppose.

And if you lived on the sun?

You would be very hot.

No, it would be yellow.

What about when the sun is setting? I asked.

Then it would be red.

Or orange, or purple.

Maybe God has more than one favorite color,

she said, looking at a rainbow.

I think you’re right, I said.

I think he loves them all.