WHAT DOES HE PLANT…

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 twighlight 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 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 blessings 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.

He Who Plants a Tree

by 

~Henry Guyler Bunner~

Henry Cuyler Bunner (August 3, 1855 – May 11, 1896) was an American novelist, journalist and poet.  He is known mainly for Tower of Babel.

Bunner's works have been praised by librarians for its "technical dexterity, playfulness and smoothness of finish".