{
 "id": "henry-van-dyke-jr/the-foolish-fir-tree",
 "title": "The Foolish Fir-Tree",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Henry van Dyke Jr.",
 "poet_slug": "henry-van-dyke-jr",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "The Poems of Henry Van Dyke",
 "book_slug": "poems",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 34,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1920,
  "venue": "The Poems of Henry Van Dyke (1920)",
  "note": "Taken from the 1920 collected edition. That is the printing this text comes from, not the poem's first appearance: the volume gathers work published from 1897 onward, and which earlier book or magazine printed this poem first has not been established here.",
  "uncertain": true,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofhenryvand00vandrich"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/henry-van-dyke-jr_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
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   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16134",
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   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3525",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9372",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29314",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43094",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofhenryvand00vandrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/buildersotherpoe00vandrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/toilingoffelixan00vandiala",
   "https://archive.org/details/musicotherpoems0000henr_c7v6",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsnowfirstcol00vanduoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/songsoutofdoors0000vand",
   "https://archive.org/details/thyseaisgreatour00vandiala",
   "https://archive.org/details/chosenpoems0000vand"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 102,
  "n_stanzas": 6,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 52,
  "max_indent": 2
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "A tale that the poet Rückert told",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "To German children, in days of old;",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Disguised in a random, rollicking rhyme",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Like a merry mummer of ancient time,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And sent, in its English dress, to please",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The little folk of the Christmas trees.",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "A little fir grew in the midst of the wood",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Contented and happy, as young trees should.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His body was straight and his boughs were clean;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And summer and winter the bountiful sheen",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of his needles bedecked him, from top to root,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In a beautiful, all-the-year, evergreen suit.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But a trouble came into his heart one day,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When he saw that the other trees were gay",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In the wonderful raiment that summer weaves",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of manifold shapes and kinds of leaves:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He looked at his needles so stiff and small,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And thought that his dress was the poorest of all.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then jealousy clouded the little tree’s mind,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he said to himself, “It was not very kind",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To give such an ugly old dress to a tree!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If the fays of the forest would only ask me,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I’d tell them how I should like to be dressed⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In a garment of gold, to bedazzle the rest!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So he fell asleep, but his dreams were bad.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When he woke in the morning, his heart was glad;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For every leaf that his boughs could hold",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Was made of the brightest beaten gold.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I tell you, children, the tree was proud;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He was something above the common crowd;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he tinkled his leaves, as if he would say",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To a pedlar who happened to pass that way,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Just look at me! Don’t you think I am fine?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And wouldn’t you like such a dress as mine?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Oh, yes!” said the man, “and I really guess",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I must fill my pack with your beautiful dress.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So he picked the golden leaves with care,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And left the little tree shivering there.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Oh, why did I wish for golden leaves?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fir-tree said, “I forgot that thieves",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Would be sure to rob me in passing by.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If the fairies would give me another try,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I’d wish for something that cost much less,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And be satisfied with glass for my dress!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then he fell asleep; and, just as before,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fairies granted his wish once more.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When the night was gone, and the sun rose clear,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The tree was a crystal chandelier;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And it seemed, as he stood in the morning light,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That his branches were covered with jewels bright.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Aha!” said the tree. “This is something great!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he held himself up, very proud and straight;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But a rude young wind through the forest dashed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In a reckless temper, and quickly smashed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The delicate leaves. With a clashing sound",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They broke into pieces and fell on the ground,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like a silvery, shimmering shower of hail,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the tree stood naked and bare to the gale.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then his heart was sad; and he cried, “Alas",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For my beautiful leaves of shining glass!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Perhaps I have made another mistake",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In choosing a dress so easy to break.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If the fairies only would hear me again",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I’d ask them for something both pretty and plain:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It wouldn’t cost much to grant my request⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In leaves of green lettuce I’d like to be dressed!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By this time the fairies were laughing, I know;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But they gave him his wish in a second; and so",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With leaves of green lettuce, all tender and sweet,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The tree was arrayed, from his head to his feet.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“I knew it!” he cried, “I was sure I could find",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sort of a suit that would be to my mind.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There’s none of the trees has a prettier dress,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And none as attractive as I am, I guess.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But a goat, who was taking an afternoon walk,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By chance overheard the fir-tree’s talk.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So he came up close for a nearer view;⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“My salad!” he bleated, “I think so too!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "You’re the most attractive kind of a tree,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And I want your leaves for my five-o’clock tea.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So he ate them all without saying grace,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And walked away with a grin on his face;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While the little tree stood in the twilight dim,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With never a leaf on a single limb.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then he sighed and groaned; but his voice was weak⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He was so ashamed that he could not speak.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He knew at last he had been a fool,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To think of breaking the forest rule,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And choosing a dress himself to please,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Because he envied the other trees.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But it couldn’t be helped, it was now too late,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He must make up his mind to a leafless fate!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So he let himself sink in a slumber deep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But he moaned and he tossed in his troubled sleep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till the morning touched him with joyful beam,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he woke to find it was all a dream.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For there in his evergreen dress he stood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A pointed fir in the midst of the wood!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His branches were sweet with the balsam smell,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His needles were green when the white snow fell.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And always contented and happy was he⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The very best kind of a Christmas tree.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}