Shaded from the sunray hot
In midday breath,
In midday rest,
Eyeing an agile squirrel from my cot
Climb a tree,

A tree I used to climb in my youth
In summertime
In years gone by,
I would from limb to limb, in truth,
Climb a tree.

Forty-five feet in a lofty tree,
A sailing ship,
A fire tower,
Looking toward a future yet to be?
Climb a tree.

A voice below shouts, “Dinner! Dinner!”
So skinny arms,
So skinny legs
Shinny to the ground to later
Climb a tree.

A cherry tree on outstretched limb
Above the ground,
Below the crown,
Precariously hugging, watching him
Climb a tree,

A BIG tree with small, sweet fruit
Within far reach,
Without young fear
To teach, as carefully he tries to prove it,
Climb a tree.

Men climb trees in dwindling forests
For building homes,
For building fires
On cozy hearths while a heart rests.
Climb a tree.

A sycamore, growing wide and strong and
Monkey bar arms,
Jungle gym rings,
A place to be and hang and dangle long and
Climb a tree.