Printable Story with Interactive Review Questions.
Read and test reading comprehension online or print and use offline. For 4th or 5th Grade and up.
Woodman, Spare That Tree!
a poem written by George Pope Morris in 1830
Woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough;
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now.
'Twas my forefather's hand
That placed it near his cot;
There, woodman, let it stand;
Thy ax shall harm it not;
That old familiar tree,
Whose glory and renown
Are spread o'er land and sea--
And wouldst thou hack it down?
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!
Cut not its earth-bound ties;
Oh, spare that aged oak
Now towering to the skies.
When but an idle boy,
I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy,
Here, too, my sisters played.
My mother kissed me here;
My father pressed my hand--
Forgive this foolish tear,
But let that old oak stand!
My heart-strings round thee cling,
Close as thy bark, old friend!
Here shall the wild-bird sing,
And still thy branches bend.
Old tree! the storm still brave!
And, woodman, leave the spot;
While I've a hand to save,
Thy ax shall harm it not.
Who wrote this poem? George Woodman Pope John George Pope Morris George Pope Morris
When was this poem written? 1830 1959 2007 1830
What word near the end of the 2nd verse means "rising high"? earth-bound forbear towering towering
What kind of tree is the subject of the poem? elm oak pine oak
The poet has sisters. True False It doesn't say in the poem. True
The poet's forefather planted this tree. True False It doesn't say in the poem. True
What is the poet trying to do in this poem? remember his father and mother express his love of his home save a tree from being cut down save a tree from being cut down
"Woodman, forbear thy stroke" means Woodman, stop your cutting. Woodman, watch out for a bear. Woodman, swing your ax. Woodman, stop your cutting.
What is a clue that this poem was written a long time ago? In modern days, people don't write poems about trees. the reference to wild birds and tall trees use of words like "thy", "thou", "wouldst" use of words like "thy", "thou", "wouldst"
Why does the poet want to save this tree? The tree sheltered him when he was young. The tree holds many memories for him. Both are true. Both are true.
