The Heart of the Tree

An Arbor-day Song (April 1893) by Henry Cuyler Bunner

What does he plant who plants a tree? He plants a friend of sun and sky; He plants the flag of breezes free; The shaft of beauty, towering high. He plants a home to heaven anigh For song and mother-croon of bird In hushed and happy twilight heard— The treble of heaven’s harmony— These things he plants who plants a tree. What does he plant who plants a tree? He plants cool shade and tender rain, And seed and bud of days to be, And years that fade and flush again; He plants the glory of the plain; He plants the forest’s heritage; The harvest of a coming age; The joy that unborn eyes shall see— These things he plants who plants a tree. What does he plant who plants a tree? He plants, in sap and leaf and wood, In love of home and loyalty And far-cast thought of civic good— His blessing on the neighborhood Who in the hollow of His hand Holds all the growth of all our land— A nation’s growth from sea to sea Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.