Twisting Pepper Tree: "The Old Witch" Montecito Ave., Mountain View, CA

The Old Witch Is Dead Twisting and turning, carving up space in all direction— gnarly Pepper Tree on Montecito Ave now with yellow ribbon around you— "Heritage Tree Removal"— death sentence for your demise as no leaves bloomed in a year so they labeled you "Dead" while your sculpturesque presence still delight to all those who pass by— I've called you "The Old Hag" but you're more graceful than the two giant redwoods towering behind as I walk to Rengstorff Ave each day catching Bus #40. Now "the old witch is dead" not crushed by a house from Kansas or drowned by water with splash from Dorothy, but by chainsaw Forestry men— gone, gone, gone but in my mind you're still shining.     — Peter Y. Chou         Mountain View, 6-12-2020