he Heart of a Tree: Why Planting for the Future Matters More Than Ever
The Heart of a Tree
Henry Cuyler Bunner
WHAT does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty, towering high.
He plants a home to heaven anigh
For song and mother-croon of bird
In hushed and happy twilight heard —
The treble of heaven’s harmony —
These things he plants who plants a tree.
What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again;
He plants the glory of the plain;
He plants the forest’s heritage;
The harvest of a coming age;
They joy that unborn eyes shall see —
These things he plants who plants a tree.
What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants, in sap and leaf and wood,
In love of home and loyalty
And far-cast thought of civic good —
His blessing on the neighborhood
Who in the hollow of His hand
Holds all the growth of all our land —
A nation’s growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.
Reflection
Henry Cuyler Bunner’s The Heart of a Tree elevates an ordinary outdoor chore into an enduring act of quiet heroism. Moving from the ecological intimacy of bird nests and shade to the vast canvas of national vitality, Bunner illustrates how a simple wooden trunk bridges the sky and the earth, the present moment and the unborn tomorrow.
In our fast-paced, modern culture of instant gratification and short-term quarterly gains, Bunner’s central message feels radically vital. We face pressing climate challenges, urban sprawl, and digital isolation. Planting a tree—both literally in our soil and metaphorically in our communities—demands patience, unselfish stewardship, and deep civic duty. It insists that true leadership is rooted in leaving behind shade for travelers whose names we will never know. When we invest in our shared ecosystem, we preserve the heritage of our plains and sustain the collective heart of the world.
As you read this poem, ask yourself:
What seeds are you planting today that will provide shade, joy, and sanctuary for generations you will never meet?
