No privilege bars a tree's access
To Earth's whole store of preciousness.
The trees stand level on God's floor,
With equal nearness to his store.
Edwin Markham, "Lincoln and Other Poems," p. 49.
The Field Fraternity
When God's warm justice is revealed —
The Kingdom that the Father planned
His children all will equal stand
As trees upon a level field.
There each one has a goodly space —
Each yeoman of the woodland race —
Each has a foothold on the Earth,
A place for business and for mirth.
No privilege bars a tree's access
To Earth's whole store of preciousness.
The trees stand level on God's floor,
With equal nearness to His store.
And trees, they have no private ends.
But stand together as close friends.
They send their beauty on all things.
An equal gift to clowns and kings.
They worry not: there is enough
Laid by for them of God's good stuff —
Enough for all, and so no fear
Sends boding on their blameless cheer.
So from the field comes curious news —
That each one takes what it can use —
Takes what its lifted arms can hold
Of sky-sweet rain and beamy gold ;
And all give back with pleasure high
Their riches to the sun and sky.
Yes, since the first star they have stood
A testament of Brotherhood.
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