Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By SidneyLanier824 A Ballad of Trees and the Master
I
Clean forspent, forspent.
Into the woods my Master came,
Forspent with love and shame.
But the olives they were not blind to Him;
The little gray leaves were kind to Him
The thorn-tree had a mind to Him
When into the woods He came.
And He was well content.
Out of the woods my Master came,
Content with death and shame.
When Death and Shame would woo Him last,
From under the trees they drew Him last:
’T was on a tree they slew Him—last,
When out of the woods He came.