  [This poem was written in the hope of saving a beautiful forest near my home in Evansville, Indiana.] Good Fairies, save the lovely trees, which live on Coal Mine Hill! Their home has been your home so long, your hearts with grief would fill Should stout men armed with axes come and fell them to the earth, These monarchs of the forest, these jewels of great worth. The giant oaks and stately elms, the rulers of this wood Have watched the growth of Evansville and helped it as they could. They gave their shade and soft bright leaves to make a downy nest To shelter the first baby boy that Evansville possessed. Before this city had a church in which both bad and good And those who love the beautiful and lovely scenes to see They climb upon this grassy hill and stand beneath some tree, While gazing far as eye can reach to fair Kentucky's lands, Or looking at the river shore on which our city stands. Above their heads the bright blue sky, green grass beneath their feet, And all around a lovely scene such as we seldom meet; Green pastures with cows grazing, broad river flowing by, And many tall church spires lifted toward the sky, No fitter place for children nor grown-up folks could be Than on this lovely Coal Mine Hill where NATURE we can see. 'Tis here the little orphans and poor children all around Find the greatest pleasures which in this woods abound. So dearest, kindest FAIRIES, please rescue these grand trees, And save them for the children, we ask you on our knees. |
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