What do we plant when we plant the tree?
We plant the ship which will cross the sea.
We plant the mast to carry the sails;
We plant the planks to withstand the gales —
The keel, the keelson, the beam, the knee;
We plant the ship when we plant the tree.
* * *
What do we plant when we plant the tree?
We plant the houses for you and me.
We plant the rafters, the shingles, the floors;
We plant the studding, the lath, the doors,
The beams and siding, all parts that be;
We plant the house when we plant the tree.
* * *
What do we plant when we plant the tree?
A thousand things that we daily see;
We plant the spire that out-towers the crag.
We plant the staff for our country’s flag.
We plant the shade from the hot sun free;
We plant all these when we plant the tree.
