<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Hill-Top Wood</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">UP In the hill-top wood</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I heard the oak-trees sing</p><p class="line">As only the great oaks can</p><p class="line">When the leaves are down, and they fling</p><p class="line">Their arms to the utmost span,</p><p class="line">And exult in their brotherhood</p><p class="line">Up on the top of the hill.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O but the air was good!</p><p class="line">And to feel them glorying</p><p class="line">As only the great oaks can,</p><p class="line">In their stubbornness and the spring</p><p class="line">That is in it--as in a man--!</p><p class="line">To exult in their brotherhood</p><p class="line">Up on the top of the hill!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I never thought that I could</p><p class="line">Know in my flesh the thing</p><p class="line">That only the great oaks can</p><p class="line">When the leaves are down and they fling</p><p class="line">Their arms out wide--but a man</p><p class="line">Is at home in that great-oak-wood</p><p class="line">Up on the top of the hill.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I climbed up among them, I stood</p><p class="line">In the ranks of the trees that sing</p><p class="line">As only the great oaks can,</p><p class="line">All of the Wonderful Thing:</p><p class="line">There, to my uttermost span,</p><p class="line">I exulted in this that I could</p><p class="line">Up on the top of the hill.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">This that I one time would</p><p class="line">If, sometime, the hour should bring</p><p class="line">Me mastery!--now I can.</p><p class="line">I hold it from taking wing:</p><p class="line">I hold it, more wonderful than</p><p class="line">Any wonder:--the Making Good</p><p class="line">Of my Dream on the top of this hill.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I tumble out all the brood</p><p class="line">Of Doubt from my boughs that I swing</p><p class="line">As only a great oak can!</p><p class="line">I exult with my branches: I fling</p><p class="line">My arms to their utmost span:</p><p class="line">I have come to my brotherhood</p><p class="line">Up on the top of this hill.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">You great hearts!--you that have stood</p><p class="line">On this hill-top uttering,</p><p class="line">As only the great oaks can,</p><p class="line">Your wonder--to-day I bring</p><p class="line">Another fragment of Man</p><p class="line">To be of your brotherhood</p><p class="line">Up on the top of the hill.</p></div></body></html> · Great War