In early Spring it was we moved up here. That good old oak was just a mass of green, The way they are the springtime of the year -- And yet I guess that tree I never seen. I thought the oak was purty, that was all; And then the Summer come, and then the Fall. The bright leaves fell, and then I saw the tree, Its giant strength by Autumn storms revealed; The bright leaves fell, but still it stood for me, When Winter come, a shelter and a shield. Yes, when the Autumn come at Summer's end, I found the tree a great and mighty friend. That was the Fall we lost our little John, And had the fire, and crops was rather bad; But my good man he just kept workin' on, And held me closer when my heart was sad. Yes, when the sorrow come, and pain, and loss, My man was there to help me bear the cross. I thought I knew my man in easy days When all went well, in days of joy and pride; But, oh, I knew him in a thousand ways I'd never guessed, the Fall our Johnny died. When 'round about me storms of Winter broke, I found beside me then a good old oak. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SOCIOLOGY OF TOYOTAS AND JADE CHRYSANTHEMUMS by HAYDEN CARRUTH SISTER MARIA CELESTE, GALILEO'S DAUGHTER, WRITES TO FRIEND by MADELINE DEFREES NOBODY'S LOOKIN' BUT DE OWL AND DE MOON (A NEGRO SERENADE) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON PRAYER AT SUNRISE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ALONZO CHURCHILL by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DECEPTION PASS; FOR JUDY AND MARK KAWASAKI by KAREN SWENSON HATCHING; FOR DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI by KAREN SWENSON SURFACE AND STRUCTURE: BONAVENTURE HOTEL, LOS ANGELES by KAREN SWENSON |