Songs and Lyrics (Lehrer)/Trees
I reckon I shall never see
A pome as purty as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth finds room
Against old Mother Earth's bazoom,
A tree that looks at God all day,
Because it cannot run away.
A tree that may in summer wear
A mess of buzzards in her hair,
On whose bazoom the snow has lain,
Who now and then shacks up with rain .
Pomes are made by jerks like me,
But only God ---
I said God ---
I mean God ---
Can make a tree.
Original poem by Joyce Kilmer:
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
free sheet music for the original song may be found online, e.g., at digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu