What The Pine Trees Said

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h2><SPAN id="WHAT_THE_PINE_TREES_SAID">WHAT THE PINE TREES SAID</SPAN></h2> <p class="caption">by Edith M. Thomas</p> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <div class="verse00">I heard the swaying pine trees speak,</div> <div class="verse02">As I went down the glen:</div> <div class="verse00">“Next year,” said one, “the wind shall seek,</div> <div class="verse02">But find me not again!”</div> </div><div class="stanza"> <div class="verse00">“I shall go forth upon the seas,</div> <div class="verse02">A mast, or steering-beam;</div> <div class="verse00">On me shall breathe the tropic breeze,</div> <div class="verse02">Above, strange stars shall gleam.”</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</SPAN></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse00">“And I&mdash;the ax shall cleave my grain,</div> <div class="verse02">And many times divide;</div> <div class="verse00">From my dear brood I’ll shed the rain,</div> <div class="verse02">And roof their ingleside.”</div> </div><div class="stanza"> <div class="verse00">Then up and spake a slender shaft,</div> <div class="verse02">That like an arrow grew;</div> <div class="verse00">“No breeze my leafless stem shall waft,</div> <div class="verse02">No ax my trunk shall hew&mdash;</div> </div><div class="stanza"> <div class="verse00">But though a single hour is mine,</div> <div class="verse02">How happy shall I be!</div> <div class="verse00">Young hearts shall leap, young eyes shall shine</div> <div class="verse02">To greet their Christmas tree!”</div> </div></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />