I used to play beside the shores of Coniston Water as a child. There was a particular tree growing near to the lake shore which I loved to climb up into. It was an important part of the landscape. Sometime after I'd left the area I went back to visit and was sad to find the tree had been cut down.
Tree SongSee the blade of the axe swing high;
feel the blade, feel the sharpness.
Hear it whistling through the air;
hear the crack as it hits my tree,
my tree! What are you doing to my tree!
What are you doing to my tree?
I've lived here five hundred years
and you just want to kill me.
I'm contributing to the atmosphere
And now you're going to fell me.
See the blade of the axe swing high...
I've got a crown: my green leaves.
I can shelter you from rain.
I can hide you from your dangers.
I can shade you from the heat of the sun.
See the blade of the axe swing high...
As a child you used to play here
and you'd hide up in my boughs,
and you'd run around in laughter,
and I'd shade you from the heat of the sun.
See the blade of the axe swing high...
I've lived here five hundred years
and you just want to kill me.
I'm contributing to the atmosphere
And now you're going to fell me.
See the blade of the axe swing high.
Feel the blade, feel the sharpness.
Hear it whistling through the air.
Hear the creak as it fells my tree,
My tree! What have you done to my tree!
What have you done to my tree?
Please plant my acorn.
©2003 Rahel Guzelian
