2a Into a great tree a small worm did go 33 It wormed its way inwards and soon it did grow 2f The tree was unhappy but what could it do? 36 It stood there in silence: the worm grew and grew 2f The tree was unhappy but what could it say 30 The worm kept on growing the tree sank away 5 30 The worm was so greedy it ate more each day 32 And each day it ate more the tree shrank away 32 The worm was so loathsome it felt no disgrace 3b The birds had been silenced the sun shunned that place 2e And all of the forest grew fearful to see 31 What terrible fate lay in store for the tree 5 38 The worm grew so monstrous its greed knew no bounds 32 The smell was so awful if poisoned the ground 34 And all of the creatures that lived in the wood 3b Were sickened and starving the worm spoiled their food 39 The birds would not sing and the sun could not shine 32 The forest lay dirty and blackened with grime 5 33 Now down in the forest a young man went riding 35 He passed by the great tree and saw it was dying 35 The leaves and the bark were all rotten and rife 38 The tree had been poisoned and drained for its life 33 He stripped of a piece of the bark of the tree 3b And straight'way he know what the right cure should be 5 33 The man built a fire and chopped down the tree 37 The worm started screaming it could not break free 3a It trashed and it lashed but it could net break loose 31 Trapped in that tree like a thief in a noose 31 The worm burst asunder a vile smelling crust 30 He hacked it to pieces and burnt it to dust 5 32 The forest seemed clearer and peacful at last 37 Like after a storm when the rainclouds have passed 34 And although the great tree was fallen and dead 35 They knew from the ashes a new life would spread 34 Yes although the great tree had fallen and died 34 They knew from the ashes a new one would thrive 5 39 Now years may have passed since the tale i have told 38 Yet the truth of this story does still seem to hold 35 Although from a great tree a small worm may grow 33 That eats it with poison and tortures its soul 34 The worm can be killed yet the tree be not dead 3b For from the roots of the elder a new life will spread 4
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