Woodman, Spare That Tree!

 WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE by George P. Morris

Woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now.
'Twas my forefather's hand
That placed it near his cot,
There, woodman, let it stand;
Thy axe shall harm it not! 

The old familiar tree,
Whose glory and renown
Are spread o'er land and sea,
And wouldst thou hack it down?
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!
Cut not its earth-bound ties;
Oh, spare that aged oak,
Now towering to the skies!

When but an idle boy
I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy,
Here, too, my sisters played.
My mother kissed me here;
My father pressed my hand
Forgive the foolish tear;
But let that old oak stand.

My heart-strings round thee cling,
Close as thy bark, old friend;
Here shall the wild-bird sing,
And still thy branches, bend.
Old tree ! the storm still brave!
And, woodman, leave the spot;
While I've a hand to save,
Thy axe shall harm it not.

Forests Under Threat or Gone:

• Deforestation and Forest Degradation
• World's forests under threat from economic and environmental crises
• Forests Under Threat Tropical and Taiga Forests
• Learn about redwood forests from Sempervirens Fund
• The Threats To The Redwoods