Henry Cuyler Bunner

The Heart of the Tree

     WHAT does he plant who plants a tree? 
            He plants a friend of sun and sky; 
    He plants the flag of breezes free; 
The shaft of beauty, towering high. He plants a home to heaven anigh
    For song and mother-croon of bird 
    In hushed and happy twilight heard -- 
The treble of heaven's harmony --
These things he plants who plants a tree.

    What does he plant who plants a tree? 
             He plants cool shade and tender rain, 
    And seed and bud of days to be, 
And years that fade and flush again;
He plants the glory of the plain;
    He plants the forest's heritage; 
    The harvest of a coming age; 
They joy that unborn eyes shall see --
These things he plants who plants a tree.

    What does he plant who plants a tree? 
             He plants, in sap and leaf and wood, 
    In love of home and loyalty 
And far-cast thought of civic good --
His blessing on the neighborhood
    Who in the hollow of His hand 
    Holds all the growth of all our land -- 
A nation's growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.