Julian Scutts Poet Elegy

O Foolish Tree

Tell me, O willow, why dost thou weep
beside the lake? Why dost thou weep? 

I will not tell thee why I do weep, 
why I do weep beside the lake. 
I will not tell thee why I weep so.

I know why thou weepest, O willow, I know, 
for thy branches, thy leaves and thy trunk, 
for they will come with axes and saws 
when they come for to chop thee up. 

No, not for myself I weep, I weep, 
but for the tree alone on the hill, 
for they shall come with axes and saws 
and him shall they fell to the ground. 

Then why dost thou weep, O foolish tree, 
for the tree alone on the hill, 
for while they hack and saw him down, 
they shall spare not a thought for thee? 

So then I must tell thee, foolish man, 
why I weep beside the lake. 
From wood they make boards, 
from boards a box, a box to lay thee in. 
So now I must tell thee, O foolish man, 
The tears that I shed are for thee

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