THE SEQUOIA GIGANTIA
I amthe oldest and the biggest thingThat lives—a link forever lengthening,That binds the vanished THEN fast toThe fleeting NOW. I grew—Each ’circling ring bespoke a year,Recording thereMy prospering—or marked perchanceSome hindering of circumstance.This towering shaft in armored frontOf thickest bark, has borne the bruntOf frost and flame; it has enduredThrough countless plagues and is inuredTo all the ravagingsOf crawling things.My grizzled head has glimpsed the waxAnd wane of comets and the tracksOf trailing meteors; and IHave watched across the skyOf time,Young nations rise and reach their primeAnd then grow dim again.I was a sturdy sapling whenGray Egypt reared the slave-hewn stonesThat hearsed the bonesOf Rameses; and full two thousand folds and moreHad sealed my red heart’s inmost coreWhen He drew breath—The Christ of little Nazareth.
I amthe oldest and the biggest thingThat lives—a link forever lengthening,That binds the vanished THEN fast toThe fleeting NOW. I grew—Each ’circling ring bespoke a year,Recording thereMy prospering—or marked perchanceSome hindering of circumstance.This towering shaft in armored frontOf thickest bark, has borne the bruntOf frost and flame; it has enduredThrough countless plagues and is inuredTo all the ravagingsOf crawling things.My grizzled head has glimpsed the waxAnd wane of comets and the tracksOf trailing meteors; and IHave watched across the skyOf time,Young nations rise and reach their primeAnd then grow dim again.I was a sturdy sapling whenGray Egypt reared the slave-hewn stonesThat hearsed the bonesOf Rameses; and full two thousand folds and moreHad sealed my red heart’s inmost coreWhen He drew breath—The Christ of little Nazareth.
I amthe oldest and the biggest thingThat lives—a link forever lengthening,That binds the vanished THEN fast toThe fleeting NOW. I grew—Each ’circling ring bespoke a year,Recording thereMy prospering—or marked perchanceSome hindering of circumstance.This towering shaft in armored frontOf thickest bark, has borne the bruntOf frost and flame; it has enduredThrough countless plagues and is inuredTo all the ravagingsOf crawling things.
My grizzled head has glimpsed the waxAnd wane of comets and the tracksOf trailing meteors; and IHave watched across the skyOf time,Young nations rise and reach their primeAnd then grow dim again.I was a sturdy sapling whenGray Egypt reared the slave-hewn stonesThat hearsed the bonesOf Rameses; and full two thousand folds and moreHad sealed my red heart’s inmost coreWhen He drew breath—The Christ of little Nazareth.
I am the oldest and the biggest thingThat lives—a link forever lengthening,That binds the vanished THEN fast toThe fleeting NOW.
I am the oldest and the biggest thingThat lives—a link forever lengthening,That binds the vanished THEN fast toThe fleeting NOW.
I am the oldest and the biggest thingThat lives—a link forever lengthening,That binds the vanished THEN fast toThe fleeting NOW.
I am the oldest and the biggest thingThat lives—a link forever lengthening,That binds the vanished THEN fast toThe fleeting NOW.
I’ve kept my long-established placeAnd I am solid—crown to base;My heart is sound, my bole is straight,My limbs hang with an even weight,I do not sag and there is noNear gully where the freshets flowTo undermine my roots. God plannedIt so, and by his grace I’ll standAgainst the centuries still.So will I fillMy destiny—To beA messenger—to carry on, to giveTomorrow’s children who shall liveWhen this fair present’s passed away,The legend of my yesterday.
I’ve kept my long-established placeAnd I am solid—crown to base;My heart is sound, my bole is straight,My limbs hang with an even weight,I do not sag and there is noNear gully where the freshets flowTo undermine my roots. God plannedIt so, and by his grace I’ll standAgainst the centuries still.So will I fillMy destiny—To beA messenger—to carry on, to giveTomorrow’s children who shall liveWhen this fair present’s passed away,The legend of my yesterday.
I’ve kept my long-established placeAnd I am solid—crown to base;My heart is sound, my bole is straight,My limbs hang with an even weight,I do not sag and there is noNear gully where the freshets flowTo undermine my roots. God plannedIt so, and by his grace I’ll standAgainst the centuries still.So will I fillMy destiny—To beA messenger—to carry on, to giveTomorrow’s children who shall liveWhen this fair present’s passed away,The legend of my yesterday.