Who goes there towering stranger, red stranger that stands so still?
The resting place of the eagle and shade for the neighboring hill.
How have you lived through our carelessness
And our feuds and our wars so well?
Could you speak old beautiful stranger,
What wonderful things you could tell.
Let me tell of your endless lifetime
From a sprout to a mighty giant,
Of the time you grew from a tiny seed
To the king so self-reliant.
On a warm spring day as the dew was drying
From 'neath the ground poked a tiny sprout.
As months passed by you grew and grew
And your first green needles peeped slowly out.
Nourished by nature, guarded by God,
You, little tree, survived the winter.
As the rain fell in torrents and the sun beat down,
You, young prince, grew on with splendor.
Earthquakes, glaciers, storms and fires
Threatened as though your death were wanted,
But you lived on as a ruler undaunted.
Men fought each other and blood was spilled.
All around you they were killed.
White men came onto Indian's soil
They feuded and fought to settle there.
Your skin was pierced by arrow and shot.
Of timbermen's axes you had to beware.
But you were spared as you still stand.
Your majesty's saved by God's own hand.
1958