Illinois Verse/The Changing Forestry
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The Changing Forestry
"Foresty? Forest you mean, I know," So the wise stranger says alway.
We alone thus call a grove of trees—name that, unique, survives today.
Trees of all kinds that the prairie's black soil can grow, planted here, took root,
Flourished, and stately and tall became. Birds built their nests in the spreading limbs,
Squirrels and rabbits and small wild things soon made their homes in the protecting shade.
Lovers came to stroll down the winding paths strewn with dry leaves and soft pine-needles.
Bird classes roamed thru its aisles each spring. Violets first shyly crept out here.
Children, also, shouted and ran about; slipped thru holes in the hedges to play,—
Swing on the wild grape-vines and wigwams build,—happy and free in the wood beloved.
Years passed by. All around houses were built. Hedges gone, menacing fences now stood
Guard o'er the Forestry, locked against all but the few who bore treasured keys.
Progress soon swept all these barriers away. Open lay once more the grove of trees.
Paths were tread south and west leading from campus to faculty homes beyond.
Facing on Lincoln the hospital now stands in the midst of its sheltering trees,
Serving the students in sickness and trouble. The gift of their friend so true,
Senator McKinley. Changed is the Forestry and what the years may bring
We know not. Always a part of the campus life it must remain. Of this
We rest assured, and the sacrificed some of the fine trees, those spared will
Keep alive the ancient name and ever will this wooded strip be called, as now, the Forestry.
We alone thus call a grove of trees—name that, unique, survives today.
Trees of all kinds that the prairie's black soil can grow, planted here, took root,
Flourished, and stately and tall became. Birds built their nests in the spreading limbs,
Squirrels and rabbits and small wild things soon made their homes in the protecting shade.
Lovers came to stroll down the winding paths strewn with dry leaves and soft pine-needles.
Bird classes roamed thru its aisles each spring. Violets first shyly crept out here.
Children, also, shouted and ran about; slipped thru holes in the hedges to play,—
Swing on the wild grape-vines and wigwams build,—happy and free in the wood beloved.
Years passed by. All around houses were built. Hedges gone, menacing fences now stood
Guard o'er the Forestry, locked against all but the few who bore treasured keys.
Progress soon swept all these barriers away. Open lay once more the grove of trees.
Paths were tread south and west leading from campus to faculty homes beyond.
Facing on Lincoln the hospital now stands in the midst of its sheltering trees,
Serving the students in sickness and trouble. The gift of their friend so true,
Senator McKinley. Changed is the Forestry and what the years may bring
We know not. Always a part of the campus life it must remain. Of this
We rest assured, and the sacrificed some of the fine trees, those spared will
Keep alive the ancient name and ever will this wooded strip be called, as now, the Forestry.