SALUTE TO THE TREES 



BY HENRY VAN DYKE 



IBj permission from Scribner's Magazine for May, mi, Ccpjrright, 1911, br Charles Scribcer's Sons] 



Many a tree is rouncl in tne -wood TKeir roots are the nurses of rivers intirtk 



And every tree for its use is good: Tkeir leaves are alive witK the hreatK of 



Some for the strength of the gnarled root, *"^ earth; 



Some for the sweetness of flower or fruit; They shelter the dwellings of man; and 



Some for shelter against the storm, ^^, fy en . , , , , , , 



A 1 .1 M.L L ^L J. U er his grave with the look ot a loving 



And some to keep the hearth-stone warm - . . f 



f 



rienc 



Some for the roof, and some for the beam. 

 And some for a hoat to hreast the stream;- 

 In the wealth or the wood since the world 



began 

 The trees have offered their gifts to man. 



But the glory of trees is more than their 



gifts: 

 'Tis a beautiful ^vonder of life that lifts 

 From a wrinkled seed m an earth-bound 



clod, 

 A column, an arch in the temple of God, 

 A pillar of power, a dome of delight, 

 A shrine of song, and a joy of sight! 



I have camped in the w^hispermg forest of 



pines, 

 I have slept in the shadow of olives and vines; 

 In the knees of an oak, at the foot of a palm 

 I have found good rest and slumber s balm. 

 And now, when the morning gilds the 



boughs 

 Of the vaulted elm at the door of my house, 

 I open the windo"w and make salute: 

 "God bless thy branches and feed thy root! 

 Thou hast lived before, live after me. 

 Thou ancient, friendly, faithful tree. 



