StoryTitle("caps", "Woodman, Spare That Tree!") ?>
Spare That Tree" (by George Pope Morris, 1802-64) is included
in this collection because I have loved it all my life, and I never knew
any one who could or would offer a criticism upon it. Its value lies in
its recognition of childhood's pleasures.
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Woodman, spare that tree!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Touch not a single bough!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In youth it sheltered me,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And I'll protect it now.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "'Twas my forefather's hand", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "That placed it near his cot;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There, woodman, let it stand,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Thy ax shall harm it not.", "") ?>
PagePoem(223, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That old familiar tree,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Whose glory and renown", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Are spread o'er land and sea—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And wouldst thou hew it down?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Woodman, forbear thy stroke!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Cut not its earth-bound ties;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Oh, spare that agèd oak", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Now towering to the skies!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When but an idle boy,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "I sought its grateful shade;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In all their gushing joy", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Here, too, my sisters played.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "My mother kissed me here;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "My father pressed my hand—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Forgive this foolish tear,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "But let that old oak stand.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "My heart-strings round thee cling,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Close as thy bark, old friend!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Here shall the wild-bird sing,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And still thy branches bend.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Old tree! the storm still brave!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And, woodman, leave the spot;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "While I've a hand to save,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Thy ax shall harm it not.", "") ?>
PoemAttribution("100", SmallCapsText("George Pope Morris.")) ?>
PoemEnd() ?>