The Best Tree in the Land

Once when I was younger,
I found a little tree
barely bigger than a twig; it was
‘bout half as big as me.

It stood there in a field of snow
a-shiverin’ in the wind,
so I slipped my mittens on his arms
to make him warm again.

Then I brought a blanket
and we both sat underneath.
Above us laid a winter sky
and tender earth beneath.

Then soft and silent baby stars
drifted all around
and twinkled like new-fallen snow
beside us on the ground.

In this moment of winter magic
I took his twig in hand,
and on that Christmas day I had
the best tree in the land.

Well, up we both grew big and strong,
and many winters passed.
The love is great, the days are long,
but oh, the years went fast.

Then one winter day my boy
called to me to say,
“Pa, I found the perfect tree
to have on Christmas day!

He’s tall just like a mountain!
His boughs are full and green!
And Pa, you must believe me,
He’s the best I’ve ever seen.”

I ran to him, and right away
my heart flushed red and warm...
The tree was once the little twig
with a mitten on each arm.

Then we sat beside the tree,
and at the stars we stared,
as I told my boy the story
of that first Christmas we shared.

And up I took him in my arms
to kiss him and to say
the best tree in the land is ours
on this Christmas day.