Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GOURD AND THE PALM, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GOURD AND THE PALM, by                    
First Line: How old art thou?' said the garrulous gourd
Last Line: Yet here I stand -- but where are they?
Subject(s): Arbor Day;trees


"How old art thou?" said the garrulous gourd,
As o'er the palm-tree's crest it poured
Its spreading leaves and tendrils fine,
And hung a bloom in the morning shine.
"A hundred years!" the palm-tree sighed:
"And I," the saucy gourd replied,
"Am at the most a hundred hours,
And overtop thee in the bowers!"

Through all the palm-tree's leaves there went
A tremor as of self-content.
"I live my life," it whispering said,
"See what I see, and count the dead;
And every year, of all I've known,
A gourd above my head has grown,
And made a boast, like thine to-day;
Yet here I stand — but where are they?"





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