My oldest son, Nathan, recently brought my attention to this powerful poem. Nathan has an interest in poems about nature, adventure, and perseverance- and that pleases me!<\/p>\n
I am quite taken with this poem, so I looked into the author,\u00a0Douglas Malloch\u00a0(May 5, 1877 \u2013 July 2, 1938). He was a poet and author of short stories. As\u00a0Associate Editor of American Lumberman, a trade paper in Chicago, he became known as\u00a0\u201cthe Lumberman\u2019s Poet.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In an age that increasingly treats hardship as unexpected and unjust, we need this does of realism and truth to become hardy individuals ready to serve the Lord.<\/p>\n Good Timber<\/strong><\/p>\n The tree that never had to fight The man who never had to toil Good timber does not grow with ease: Where thickest lies the forest growth, –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Douglas Malloch, (1877-1938)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My oldest son, Nathan, recently brought my attention to this powerful poem. Nathan has an interest in poems about nature, adventure, and perseverance- and that pleases me! I am quite taken with this poem, so I looked into the author,\u00a0Douglas Malloch\u00a0(May 5, 1877 \u2013 July 2, 1938). He was a poet and author of short …<\/p>\n
\nFor sun and sky and air and light,
\nBut stood out in the open plain
\nAnd always got its share of rain,
\nNever became a forest king
\nBut lived and died a scrubby thing.<\/p>\n
\nTo gain and farm his patch of soil,
\nWho never had to win his share
\nOf sun and sky and light and air,
\nNever became a manly man
\nBut lived and died as he began.<\/p>\n
\nThe stronger wind, the stronger trees;
\nThe further sky, the greater length;
\nThe more the storm, the more the strength.
\nBy sun and cold, by rain and snow,
\nIn trees and men good timbers grow.<\/p>\n
\nWe find the patriarchs of both.
\nAnd they hold counsel with the stars
\nWhose broken branches show the scars
\nOf many winds and much of strife.
\nThis is the common law of life.<\/p>\n