big tree

the cold snap has ended
the saw remains broken
for another day
the teeth need filed
and the bar was smoked
trying to cut a grandaddy tree
who must fall to feed
the hungry stove,
warm the wife and kids
this is his eulogy
a fine spruce, a corner tree
with a lean,
why did i not
choose another
there remains a small gash
in the armor
my tracks have been squelched
by a new layer of snow