the dark forest

evening in the forest beside our house

Trees, trees against the sky -
O I have loved them well!
There are pleasures you cannot buy,
Treasurers you cannot sell,
And not the smallest of these
Is the gift and glory of trees. . . .
So I gaze and I know now why
It is good to live - and to die. . . .
Trees and the Infinite Sky.

by Robert Service
Born January 16, 1874, Preston, England
Died September 11, 1958 (aged 84), Lancieux, Côtes-d'Armor, France

Service moved to Canada at the age of 21 and travelled to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He drifted around western North America, wandering from California to British Columbia. In 1899 Service was a store clerk in Cowichan Bay, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He is known for writing "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee". (Source: Wikipedia)