The Lone Tree, by Caspar David Friedrich
Henry Abbey
What do we plant when we plant the tree?
We plant the ship which will cross the sea.
We plant the mast to carry the sails:
We plant the plank to withstand the gales;
The keel, the keelson, and beam and knee:
We plant the ship when we plant the tree.
 
What do we plant when we plant the tree?
We plant the house for you and me.
We plant the rafter, the shingles, the floors;
We plant the studding, the lath, the doors,
The beams and siding, all parts that be;
We plant the house when we plant the tree.
 
What do we plant when we plant the tree?
A thousand things that we daily see.
We plant the spire that out-towers the crag,
We plant the staff for our country’s flag:
We plant the shade from the hot sun free:
We plant all these when we plant the tree.
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