The weeping willows weep As silently their vigils keep Why do the willows cry? They watch the orange groves Slowly die Where trees once stood in viral loam Now replaced by buildings and homes Slowly the disease known as progress Destroys tranquility and causes stress The lure of orange blossoms Filling the air Brought tourists to Redlands A city so fair The tourist attractions That made it so grand Now replaced by an asphalt land Gone are the reasons of which To show pride Are now cast by wolves Along the wayside Where greed has slowly been Allowed to creep And causes the willows to silently weep Oh for the Redlands we knew Of yore If only the orange groves We could restore Maybe the willows no longer would cry For the orange groves that continue to die. ***