the_giving_tree girl_jane By Shel Silverstein Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-seek. And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree... very much. And the tree was happy. But time went by. And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat my apples and play in my shade and be happy." "I am too big to climb and play," said the boy. "I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?" "I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I have no money. I only have leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy." And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time... and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy." "I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy. "I want a house to keep me warm," he said. "I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?" "I have no house," said the tree. "The forest in my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy." And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. "Come, Boy," she whispered, "come and play." "I am too old and sad to play," said the boy. "I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?" "Cut down my trunk and make a boat," said the tree. "Then you can sail away... and be happy." And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy... but not really. And after a long time the boy came back again. "I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you- My apples are gone." "My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy. "My branches are gone," said the tree, "You cannot swing on them-" "I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy. "My trunk is gone," said the tree. "You cannot climb-" "I am too tired to climb," said the boy. "I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something... but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry..." "I don't need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired." "Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy. The End. 020707 ... -{::ephemeral_arcs::}- I would give a smile to you if I could girl_jane, for posting that. 020707 ... girl_jane But you can, and you did. 020707 ... farmfish girl_jane is my hero. 020708 ... Kate My uncle first read that to the family one Christmas Eve, and then an elementary school teacher, and then Mr. Koons... everytime I read it, though, I feel so bad for the tree and it makes me want to go out and hung one to make up for the past wrongs of the little boy. 020708 ... Dafremen Coincidentally? I found a copy of that book in the parking lot of the Goodwill I visit. I have it in my bathroom right now. It reminds me of sitting_tree_smiles when I read it. 020708 ... Dafremen (The coincidence would be that I found it 3 days ago.) 020708 ... girl_jane The real coincidence, Dafremen, is that I got the idea to post the book because of a blathe you started-to_a_tree_i_know I think if was. fury little bug said something about the book, and I thought it should be posted. So-yeah...another coincidence- 020708 ... squigglybee i remember the first time the giving tree was read to me. it's a really cute book. i also like the missing piece, by shel silverstein. have you guys ever read that one? 020709 ... kill rhythm my english teacher reads that book to us every year. but i cant remember if its around easter or around christmas...it always makes me kinda sad. maybe its just the way she reads it, i dunno 020709 ... squint when i was in sixth grade i had a friend who was more like a sister who let me tag along sometimes in her activities at school (her whole little group of female friends were like my sistas too) and she was in 12th grade.... since we were in a private school, in the yearbook all the seniors had a fulll page they could decorate however and elizabeth (that was the afore mentioned girls name) put some messages to people...i didnt think she put anything for me and i didnt really read all the way thru her page...until a couple years later. "Jamie Smith: Hey you crazy blonde child, never stop reading shel silverstein--he rocks!" small but it was good advice :) heheh. 020709 ... drstrangelove girl_jane thank you much! ("booshoo" as they say in my native american lang.) im sure this is the way it should be, altho im a little dense to make that magic happen yet. [btw i dont believe in coincidences.] 020710 ... once again this book makes me cry... still. 030924 ... nomatter everything reminds me of them i put it all on black no color you're all dressed in and a stab in the back left you bleeding on the floor and i'm mourning the death the recent passing of your insides i smile in regret every time i think of how i spoke to you i put it all in back of my mind where i hold you i'm just trying to keep track how far back it really goes and i'm living in lack of the blood sent from the heavens i'm just trying to relax as a killer's waiting right outside my door what's black and white what's read all over? this tired book this organ donor sweet blasphemy my giving tree it hasn't rained in years i bring to you this sacrificial offering of virgin ears leave it to me i remain free from all the comforts of home and where that is i'm pleased as piss to say i'll never really know i put them all in black the four walls of my bedroom and i trimmed them in red peeled your picture off the wall and i'm living in lack of the blood sent from your heartbeat that arrived in your neck every time i salivated over you what's upside down what's coated in silver? this crucifix is my four leaf clover sweet blasphemy my giving tree it hasn't rained in years i bring to you this sacrificial offering of virgin ears leave it to me i'll remain free from all the comforts of home and where that is i'm pleased as piss to say i'll never really know one of these days it's gonna catch up to you throwing looks like those around one of these nights i promise to you i'll soon be sleeping sound as soon as i leave town 031003 ... andru235 i will play with you i will teach you i will shelter you i will love you i will give of my whole self for you i will weep for you 050419 ... andru235 i will remember you 050419 ... girl_jane I just read this again for the first time in a while, and I wonder...I've been recently thinking about going back to church...and I wonder if Shel meant the tree to represent God. I mean-the boy, as a little boy, is all about the tree and innocent. As he gets older, he only comes when he needs things, and the last time, when he's old and tired, he is given rest by the tree. So...it just made me think of how similar that is to so many people's relationship with a higher power. I just like how in the end, the tree is still happy he came back, she's not mad. 050420 ... andru235 certainly it is analogous to many things, but i hadn't thought of that! a marvellous interpretation! 050420 what's it to you? who go blather from