The Giving Tree Poem by Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree

Rating: 3.8


Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, 'Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy.'
'I am too big to climb and play' said
the boy.
'I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?'
'I'm sorry,' said the tree, 'but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy.'
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time....
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, 'Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy.'
'I am too busy to climb trees,' said the boy.
'I want a house to keep me warm,' he said.
'I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house ?'
' I have no house,' said the tree.
'The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy.'

And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
'Come, Boy,' she whispered,
'come and play.'
'I am too old and sad to play,'
said the boy.
'I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?'
'Cut down my trunk
and make a boat,' said the tree.
'Then you can sail away...
and be happy.'
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.

And after a long time
the boy came back again.
'I am sorry, Boy,'
said the tree,' but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone.'
'My teeth are too weak
for apples,' said the boy.
'My branches are gone,'
said the tree. ' You
cannot swing on them - '
'I am too old to swing
on branches,' said the boy.
'My trunk is gone, ' said the tree.
'You cannot climb - '
'I am too tired to climb' said the boy.
'I am sorry,' sighed the tree.
'I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry....'
'I don't need very much now,' said the boy.
'just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired.'
'Well,' said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
'well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.'
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Laura Horvath 27 April 2010

At first this poem reminded me of Birches...i think Robert Frost? Even though the poem ends with the tree and the boy united...I think it is still very sad...I don't know why, but there is something so melancholy about this poem. Neither the boy (the old man) nor the stump (the tree) are the same as when they started. Life changes us all? In the end family is all we have? A tale of unconditional love and unconditional giving? Not sure what this poem is really saying and why it makes me sad to hear it...

93 27 Reply
Ananya Farjanw 24 June 2023

Same here. I was reminded of Birches too

1 0
John Petree 10 December 2015

Great poem. Which isn't surprising since silverstein wrote it. I found it really sad though, the love the tree had for the boy, and the way he used the tree. But who can't relate to the tree? ?

52 13 Reply
Paula Lancaster 30 July 2013

I love this! Ken for you! 1

31 29 Reply
Paula Lancaster 30 July 2013

I love this! Ken this is for you!

25 26 Reply
S. A. Crawford 27 October 2023

The boy in the tree could've communicated the entire time. They were never away from each other. Very sad home but also very happy that you realize that what are the primary focus is here is that what you give something to someone it remains with you

1 0 Reply
S. A. Crawford 27 October 2023

Fabulous narrative poem with a strong fablesque character. One reason the tree is so sad is because the

0 0 Reply
Curtis Delk Rose Rose 14 September 2023

i appreciate this kind of Inspiring Poetic Art being Gifted into my life.

0 0 Reply

What a beauty!

1 0 Reply
Nabakishore Dash 02 April 2023

A great write about the greatest karmayogi of creation

0 1 Reply
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Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein

Chicago/ Illinois
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