Florida Holiday

To a Child First Seeing Epcot Center

with apologies to Joyce Kilmer

This stuff that we at Disney see
is really nothing like a tree.

That plastic palm with leaves impressed
now slouched on Earth's extruded breast,

has nuts of fuzzy shredded foam
recycled of milk jugs from home.

To save from raking, mulch and spray,
they've circumvented Nature's way.

They've fashioned dummies, "Ever-Wear":
a laurel with spun-acrylic hair,

and birch with polyester grain,
and oak that never needed rain.

Hollywood's great, but believe you me—
only God can make a tree.

And Disney's park will ever be—
just like this poem—a parody.

by Catherine McGuire

in Volume 3 Issue 2

Buy a Copy

Return to the Online TOC