# The Loving Tree

First published in The Bookfellow, 15 April 1915, p87
Three women walked upon a road, And the first said airily, "Of all the trees in all the world Which is the loving tree?"
The second said, "My eyes have seen No tree that is not fair; But the Orange tree is the sweetest tree, The loving blood is there."
And the third said, "In the green time I knew a loving tree That gave a drink of the blood-red milk, It was the Mulberry."
Then the first one said, "Of all the trees No sweetest can I name; Ask her who yonder slowly comes— That woman lean and lame."
Grief like a hideous suckling hung Along her hollow breast, Pain was upon her as she walked, And as she stooped to rest.
"Why will you question so?" she said, "Is it to mock at me? For how should I, who walk in Hell, Know of a loving tree?
"My eyes are not as woman's eyes, They hope not east or west: Dull Famine my bed-mate is, And Loneliness my guest.
" 'Tis not the most delicious flower That leaves the scent of Spring, Nor is it yet the brightest bird That loads his heart to sing.
"A tree may dance in the white weather Or dream in a blue gown, A tree may sing as a sweetheart To bid the stars come down:
"Some trees are slim and lovable And some are sleek and strong, But the tree that has the cripple's heart Will know the cripple's song.
"The sweetest death is the red death That comes up nakedly, And the tree that has the foiled heart It is the loving tree.
"While ever lip shall seek for lip, While ever light shall fall, The tree that has the ruined heart Is tenderest of all.
"Oh, ye may have your men to kiss, And children warm to hold, But the heart that had the hottest love Was never yet consoled."
The women three walked on their way, Their shamed eyes could see How well the tree with the foiled heart Is still the loving tree.
This work is in the public domain in Australia because it was created in Australia and the term of copyright has expired. According to Australian Copyright Council - Duration of Copyright, the following works are public domain:
* published non-government works whose author died before January 1, 1955,
* anonymous or pseudonymous works and photographs published before January 1, 1955, and
* government works published more than 50 years ago (before January 1, 1974).
This work is also in the public domain in the United States because it was first published outside the United States (and not published in the U.S. within 30 days), and it was first published before 1989 without complying with U.S. copyright formalities (renewal and/or copyright notice) and it was in the public domain in Australia on the URAA date (January 1, 1996). This is the combined effect of Australia having joined the Berne Convention in 1928, and of 17 USC 104A with its critical date of January 1, 1996.
Because the Australian copyright term in 1996 was 50 years, the critical date for copyright in the United States under the URAA is January 1, 1946.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1942, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 81 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse