Instead of thinking man were I a tree, When barren Winter's snow-wrapped slumbers break Upon a world of verdure, I'd awake All blossoms sweet for nestling bird or bee. As petals fell young fruit would cover me, Warm-ripening in the sun, till Fall would shake My shriveled leaves, from heavy branches take The ruddy rounds and rock me drowsily. But lordly man whose free intelligence Exalts him master of the earth, may show No flower in youth, no fruit as age appears. God grant my free mind prove its high pretense, Nor yield returns less sure than those that grow On each gnarled apple-tree the green earth bears. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHURCH FLOORE by GEORGE HERBERT THE LIGHT OF STARS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE IMPROVISATORE: THE INDUCTION TO THE THIRD FYTTE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES MIDNIGHT by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN SONG (3); SET BY MR. COLEMAN by CHARLES COTTON SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD: 5. THE PHOTOGRAPH by CHRISTOPHER PEARSE CRANCH |