Her soul was in the willow tree
while she slept still each night.
Her husband longed to set her free
and get things set aright.
He tried each night to waken her,
but her body lay as dead,
for her soul was in the willow tree
while her body lay in bed.
In despair he cut down the tree
one dark and moonless night.
It sighed and died, and so did she,
was dead at dawn’s first light.
So then he came to understand
she truly was the willow.
Only when the tree did stand
would she wake on her pillow.
And so he lost his bonnie bride
by killing nature’s creature.
And so we humans with our pride
will undercut our future.
Unless we know, now and forever,
that Nature’s Soul is One.
We dare not sacred links thus sever.
Unity must be won.