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