L’Arbre fee de Bourlemont

by Mark Twain

Now what has kept your leaves so green,
  Arbre Fée de Bourlemont?
The children's tears! They brought each grief,
  And you did comfort them and cheer
  Their bruisèd hearts, and steal a tear
    That, healèd, rose a leaf.

And what has built you up so strong,
  Arbre Fée de Bourlemont?
The children's love! They've loved you long
  Ten hundred years, in sooth,
They've nourished you with praise and song,
And warmed your heart and kept it young—
  A thousand years of youth!

Bide always green in our young hearts,
  Arbre Fée de Bourlemont!
And we shall always youthful be,
  Not heeding Time his flight;
And when, in exile wand'ring, we
Shall fainting yearn for glimpse of thee,
  O, rise upon our sight!