Thanks for the comments
really appreciated.
It was only actually one tree that was felled
but it took them all day.
At first I thought they were just thinning out the lower branches
to avoid any problems with high-sided traffic that sometimes passes
but in the end the whole tree went.
I took a photograph of the tree laden with magpies earlier this year
and it can be viewed at
http://www.nhi.clara.net/nhihome/ni002.htm
I'm still trying to sort out exactly where are some of the buildings
that I can now see in the distance from the bedroom window.

yours
Gerald

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Cooper" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: sijo


> Hi Gerald,
> You've made my imagination work well with this!
> The houses, then the trees being felled, then the churches... how our
lives
> are ringed by distinct, different, things that can matter.
> And, for me, magpies ain't friendly birds (they have a reputation for
> stealing, they're said to be exterminating lots of other species by eating
> their eggs) so I've got yet more to think over.
> So much in just over 20 words...
> Bob
>
>
> >From: Gerald England <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: sijo
> >Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 17:22:27 +0100
> >
> >sijo
> >
> >all day
> >we heard the chain-saws hum
> >over the rooftops
> >two churches now in view
> >but when again
> >will we see the magpies flock?
> >
> >Gerald England
> >
> >c&c welcome
>
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