Yesterday I did yard work. Afterwards I finished the book “The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak. One of the characters in the book is a fig tree. As I tossed in bed last night, body aching, thoughts churning, this poem came to me.


If We Knew

Humans feel,
express emotions.

Animals, too.

What do the plants
and insects do?

Does a tree feel the pain
of a chainsaw chain,
as limbs are thinned,
its fullness dimmed?

On a bigger scale -
what about
when a tree
is felled?

Is there a gasp of horror
from its friends,
fearful, too,
they will meet their ends?

And when the grass is cut,
are there a thousand little screams
as blades top their heads
and then large feet
do tread?

The insects are impacted, too -
homes destroyed.
They must withdraw
to new surroundings,
start anew.

Do they curse us all,
mourn the moving
as they leave their dead?

Do they sense the danger
when a shadow falls,
and in seconds
they’re gone?

Did they know
their time was up,
feel the end
closing in?

Did they feel the pain-
limbs crushed,
guts exposed,
legs broken?

Would we, as humans,
hesitate more,
act less,
if we knew
their answers?



Poetry by Melinda K Zarate The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 126 times
star mini Editors' choice
Written on 2026-03-24 at 14:26

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
Your poem has been chosen to be featured on the home page of PoetBay. Thank you for posting on our poetry website!
2026-03-30


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
So much is being written these days about consciousness, what is it, can plants and animals, and even molecules and inanimate objects have consciousness?

In my mind, living within a forest all my life, I see plants and animals as a community, a whole, dependent on one another. Does a tree feel pain when it is cut, does it have consciousness? Does the community feel the loss? Very much so, I think, not in the way we do, but there is no reason to assume we, humans, are the sole proprietor of consciousness ~~~~

I appreciate this poem for what you're saying, and saying so well, and the questions you ask.
2026-03-25


Alan J Ripley The PoetBay support member heart!
Hi Melinda
I've written on this subject
Many times, And wondered;
If there's a insect heaven.
Where man has to stand for his crimes.
When he's knowingly committed insecticide?
I hope the punishment doesn't fit the crimes,
Otherwise we could all be guilty in their eyes.
Another great post.
Regards Alan
2026-03-25


JohnJohn
I wonder if plants could write poetry they would write about flowers, aromas, colour and darkness? I enjoyed the read.
2026-03-24


melanie sue The PoetBay support member heart!
Oh goodness me. I love this one, Melinda. It's very well written, a smooth and very relatable read. It made me think of other things too. This poem is packed with sub levels of meaning. It made me reflect on my own self- on how I hate to squash a bug, even ones I especially don't like.
It made me think of 1948 and those good and bad figs-
The Generation of The Fig Tree.
2026-03-24