1. THEY HAVE CUT DOWN THE PINESBy
Mary Lisle

2. They have cut down the pines

3. where they stood;

4. The wind will miss them -

5. – the rain,

6. When its silver blind is down.

7. They have stripped the bark from the wood –

8. The needly boughs,

9. and the brown Knobbly nuts trodden into the ground.

10. The kind, the friendly trees,

11. Where all day small winds sound,

12. And all day long the sun

13. Plays hide and seek with shadows

14. Till the multiplying shadows turn to one

15. And night is here.

16. They have cut down the trees

17. and ended now

18. The gentle colloquy of bough and bough.

19. They are making the fence by the creek,
They have made a fence by the creek,
They are making the fence by the creek,

20. And have cut down the pines for the posts.

21. Wan in the sunlight as ghosts
The naked trunks lie.

22. A bird nested there – it will seek
In vain:

23. they have cut down the pines.