I longed to love a full-boughed beech And be as high as he:
I stretched an arm within his reach, And signalled unity.
But with his drip he forced a breach, And tried to poison me.
I gave the grasp of partnership To one of other race--A plane: he barked him strip by strip From upper bough to base;And me therewith; for gone my grip, My arms could not enlace.
In new affection next I strove To coll an ash I saw, And he in trust received my love;Till with my soft green claw I cramped and bound him as I wove...
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By this I gained his strength and height Without his rivalry.
But in my triumph I lost sight Of afterhaps.Soon he, Being bark-bound, flagged, snapped, fell outright, And in his fall felled me!
