White Ghosts

These ghostly trees may wear
cloaks of different hues—
a mossy green when rains
ride on monsoon winds
a blondish tan when dust
drifts high from dirty thongs
a hint of pink at dawn
azure blue at noon
vermilion at sunset
ashen at midnight
and white when all is well—
when Flames of the Forest burn
at their branches’ ends
and other species drop
their leaves to the forest floor
revealing ficus vines
arching from tree to tree
and clusters of bamboo
hiding jungle fowl.

These White Ghosts now stand
guard with regal air
calling for all who hear:
this forest is fit for life—
for the Bengal Tigers
and Sambar deer, their prey,
Asia’s Lion prides,
Leopards and Panthers Black,
pouncing Jungle Cats,
termite-eating bears,
Blackbuck stags, and more
who may not become
ghosts by extinction’s fate
as long as forests thrive.

                                  by Jan Haffley