Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade
Laughing all the summer’s hours away.
And so they love,
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said,
"Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I’ve found?"
"I have no money," said the tree, "Just apples, twigs and leaves."
"But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree,
"I’m now a man and I must have a house that’s all my home."
"I can’t give you a house" he said, "The forest is my house."
"But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home"
And so he did.
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes.
"My life has turned so cold," he says, "and I need sunny days."
"I’ve nothing but my trunk," he says, "But you can cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
And after years the boy came back, both of them were old.
"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."
"I’m nothing but an old stump now. I’m sorry but I’ve nothing more to give"
"I do not need very much now, just a quiet place to rest,"
The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile.
"Well", said the tree, "An old stump is still good for that."
"Come, boy", he said, "Sit down, sit down and rest a while."
And so he did and
Oh, the trees was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
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8 comments:
Am I horrible b/c that story has always made me very, very sad? I'm not sure why but I always wanted someone to pull a switch off that tree and whack that boy's behind for being so grabby.
I'm hopeless.
I know.
this post,
i enjoyed.
along with the video.
mgmt fan myself,
but that video was great!
me too Melinda me too
I've heard of this story, but I never read it until now. Thanks, AWTM!
I don't think the video was quite what Shel Silverstein had in mind, but I enjoyed it.
No, GW, I don't think you're horrible. Neither is AWTM. That's how I read the story too. But there are other interpretations.
I agree with you, Guard Wife! That's exactly how I feel!
.... actually, that poem is quite remarkable...... and the video was amazing.....
My aunt and uncle owned a dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley when I was growing up. They were extremely poor...mice in the kitchen and an outhouse. My uncle used to sit under an old cottonwood and dream of not having to worry about money. He became an alcholic, won the lottery "$4million" and died shortly after using the money to spiff the place up. We spread his ashes under the same tree. His wife, now in her 80's asked that we spread her ashes there also.
The tree is patient and showing it's age. It still has shade to protect those who live and die beneath it's long branches. It is a peaceful place....
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