What do we plant?

What do we plant when we plant the tree?

We plant the ship which will cross the sea.

We plant the mast to carry the sails;

We plant the planks to withstand the gales.

The keel the keelson the beam the knee...

We plant the ship when we plant the tree.

What do we plant when we plant the tree?

We plant the houses for you and me.

We plant the rafters the shingles the floors

We plant the studding the lath the doors

the beams and siding all parts that be...

We plant the house when we plant the tree.

What do we plant when we plant the tree?

A thousand things that we daily see

We plant the spire that out-towers the crag

We plant the staff for our country's flag

We plant the shade from hot sun free

We plant all these when we plant the tree.