Page 12 - English Expedition Class 6

Th at old familiar tree,
Whose glory and renown 5 • Is the poet a child or an adult? How can you tell?
Are spread o’er land and sea – • What kind of attachment does the poet have

And wouldst thou hew it down? with the oak tree?
6
7
Woodman, forbear thy stroke! • How do you think the ‘glory and renown’ of
the old tree have spread far and wide?
Cut not its earth-bound ties;
• Why does the poet shed foolish tears and whose
Oh, spare that aged oak,
forgiveness is he seeking?
Now towering to the skies!
• How does the poet’s manner of speaking to the
woodman change as the poem progresses?
When but an idle boy,

I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy
8
Here, too, my sisters played.
My mother kissed me here;
My father pressed my hand –

Forgive this foolish tear,
But let that old oak stand.

9
My heartstrings round thee cling,
Close as thy bark, old friend!
Here shall the wild-bird sing,
And still thy branches bend.
Old tree! the storm still brave!

And, woodman, leave the spot;
While I’ve a hand to save,
Th y axe shall harm it not.

George Pope Morris (1802–64) was a popular American poet and
songwriter of his time. His poem ‘Woodman, Spare That Tree!’ was
fi rst published in 1837 and set to music later. It is considered the fi rst
environmental protest song.

5 renown: fame 8 gushing: enthusiastic
6 hew: chop 9 heartstrings: deepest feelings of love and compassion
7 forbear: hold back; spare
2