{
 "id": "james-mcintyre/lament-of-the-maple-tree",
 "title": "Lament of the Maple Tree",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": "A Vision",
 "poet": "James McIntyre",
 "poet_slug": "james-mcintyre",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Musings on the Banks of Canadian Thames",
 "book_slug": "musings-on-the-banks-of-canadian-thames",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 3,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": "“We had a dream which was not all a dream.”",
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1884,
  "venue": "Musings on the Banks of Canadian Thames (1884)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_09542"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/james-mcintyre_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_09542",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36068",
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_11791"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 88,
  "n_stanzas": 1,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 39,
  "max_indent": 0
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "I laid me down one day in June,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It was late long afternoon,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A very sultry summer’s eve,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Such times the senses oft deceive,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The place was ’neath a maple tree,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Soon from all cares and troubles free,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By a gentle, kindly slumber,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No more our sorrows we could number,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But we heard a plaintive wail",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Such as we find in fairy tale,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It was the genius of the tree",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who in sad guise appeared to me,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And then she sadly did give vent",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unto this awful grave lament:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though I am gay in month of June,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All decked in green, yet very soon,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Alas my beauty will be faded",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And my charms be all degraded,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For is my time of glory brief,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So often flattered is my leaf.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In Canada so broad and free",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All poets sing of the maple tree,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "High I stand in their opinion,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Emblem of the New Dominion,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The reason I do them upbraid",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Some never slept beneath my shade,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And yet they take the liberty",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To chant about the maple tree,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They dare to poetise my leaf,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This is the source of all my grief,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I think their praises all so rude",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And as but base ingratitude,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So often hackneyed is my name",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That every fall I burn with shame,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like maiden’s cheek which blushes red",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When vain rash youth asks her to wed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then do these foolish ones descry",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In me fresh beauty and they sigh,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And then renew their songs of praise.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But unto me how sad their lays,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For then I know my days are brief,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "’Tis hectic flush upon my leaf;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "True poets then should mournful sing",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When the destroyer’s on the wing,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For then I know my leaves of gold",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Will all soon mingle with the mould,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No one does ever think to praise",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fell destroyer when he slays,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "None rejoice in the flushed cheek",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When the poor girl is low and weak,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Perhaps they’ll say and it is true",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In spring my glories I’ll renew,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But ’tis poor comfort after all",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To lose my offspring every fall,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Small consolation to mother",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To tell her that soon another",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Will replace her fond darling boy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who has been source of all her joy,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But you know all about my wood",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "You know that it is strong and good,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And I have full many a curl",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And pleasing eye and charming nurl,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Some love me as fond nature grained",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And some prefer my beauty stained,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But my dear friend I hope that you",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "My varied shades love pure and true,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For of the woods you know the staple",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Stoutest and best is good maple,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The youth my sugar eat with glee,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And old maids love me in their tea,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In me do various uses meet",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In summer shade, in winter heat,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For I do make a glorious blaze",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All worthy of the poet’s lays,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But to their praises I’ll be deaf",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If more they harp about my leaf.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They call me gay when I am sober",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To me ’tis gloomy month October,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But saints on earth when they die",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hope for true bliss beyond the sky,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So winter does bring no alarms",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though it strip bare my trunk and arms,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For now I know that time will bring",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "More glorious foliage in the spring,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then all nature will rejoice",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Triumphing with glorious voice,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And birds will in my branches sing",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hosannas to the lovely spring.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}