Poems (Douglas)/The Auld Aik Tree

by Sarah Parker Douglas

The Auld Aik Tree

How thought awakens thought
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree—
WY pain and pleasure fraught;
 For this Auld Aik Tree,
With a necromantic power,
Can conjure up each hour
Spent in childhood's happy bower,
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree.

The very breeze that plays
 Round this Auld Aik Tree,
Seems to breathe of other days
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree.
When our hearts beat glad and light,
As the stream, wi' glory bright,
Dances down from height to height,
 Through this Auld Aik Tree.

Young bounding bosoms met
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree,
And fancy sees them yet
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree—
Each youthful brow sae fair,
Gleaming glad 'neath braided hair,
Unknown to pain or care,
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree.

Ah! that was life's young morn,
 Neath this Auld Aik Tree,
And our hearts' were there untorn,
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree;
All was then one sunny spring,
Then we felt no sorrow's sting—
There was nought our heart to wring,
 Neath this Auld Aik Tree.

And now I love to bide
 'Neath this Auld Aik Tree;
And who would dare to chide,
 When this Auld Aik Tree
As close to mem'ry clings
As the very ivy rings
That nature coils an' flings
 Round this Auld Aik Tree?