<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Lonely Garden</h1><p class="byline"> EDGAR A. GUEST <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/>Copyright, 1918, by Edgar A. Guest. Special permission to reproduce in this book.</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I WONDER what the trees will say,</p><p class="line">The trees that used to share his play, </p><p class="line">An' knew him as the little lad </p><p class="line">Who used to wander with his dad. </p><p class="line">They've watched him grow from year to year </p><p class="line">Since first the good Lord sent him here; </p><p class="line">This shag-bark hick'ry, many a time, </p><p class="line">The little fellow tried t' climb; </p><p class="line">An' never a spring has come but lie </p><p class="line">Has called upon his favorite tree. </p><p class="line">I wonder what they all will say</p><p class="line">When they are told he's marched away.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I wonder what the birds will say,</p><p class="line">I'lie swallow an' the chatterin' jay,</p><p class="line">The robin an' the kildeer, too.</p><p class="line">For every one o' them he knew,</p><p class="line">An' every one o' them knew him,</p><p class="line">Waited each spring t' tell him all</p><p class="line">They'd done and seen since 'way last fall.</p><p class="line">He was the first to greet 'em here</p><p class="line">An' hoppin' there from limb t' limb,</p><p class="line">As they returned from year t' year;</p><p class="line">An' now I wonder what they'll say</p><p class="line"> When they are told he's marched away.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I wonder how the roses there </p><p class="line">Will get along without his care, </p><p class="line">An' how the one o' them will face</p><p class="line">The loneliness about th' place, </p><p class="line">For ev'ry spring an' summer he </p><p class="line">Has been the chum o' plant an' tree, </p><p class="line">An' every livin' thing has known </p><p class="line">A comradeship that's finer grown </p><p class="line">By havin' him from year t' year. </p><p class="line">Now very soon they'll all be here, </p><p class="line">An' I'm wonderin' what they'll say </p><p class="line">When they find out he's marched away. </p></div></body></html> · Great War