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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE COMFORT OF THE TREES by RICHARD WATSON GILDER

First Line: GENTLE AND GENEROUS, BRAVE-HEARTED, KIND
Last Line: FOUND COMFORT IN THE MOVING GREEN OF TREES.
Subject(s): ASSASSINATION; MCKINLEY, WILLIAM (1843-1901); TREES;

GENTLE and generous, brave-hearted, kind,
And full of love and trust was he, our chief;
He never harmed a soul! Oh, dull and blind
And cruel, the hand that smote, beyond belief!
Strike him? It could not be! Soon should we find
'T was but a torturing dream -- our sudden grief!
Then sobs and wailings down the northern wind
Like the wild voice of shipwreck from a reef!
By false hope lulled (his courage gave us hope!)
By day, by night we watched, -- until unfurled
At last the word of fate! -- Our memories
Cherish one tender thought in their sad scope:
He, looking from the window on this world,
Found comfort in the moving green of trees.



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