Yes, I will grow like a tree.
Nothing shall keep me from waking,
Down in the dark, and breaking
Out of the earth, to see!
Feeling with eager fingers
After an unseen light,
Warm through the chill that lingers,
Lifting me out of night,
Up towards the day's out-breaking.

Yes, I will grow like a tree;
Nothing shall keep me from growing,
Nothing shall hold me from knowing
The sun that is calling me.
Ever apace with time,
Up through the earth, rain-fed,
Nearer the glow I climb,
Hearing, above my head,
Laughter of life over-flowing.

Up from the things that creep,
After the light and the singing!
April what are you bringing?
I have awakened from sleep.
Come, I have toiled, aspire,
O, and the thirst is mine
Ever to journey higher
Unto the wide divine
Air, where the winds go winging!

Bud, have you pierced the sod?
Here in a glory of wonder,
Where all the shadows sink under
The living garden of God?
Ah, what a mighty patience
Fed all the trees that won
To these thousand-fold exultations,—
Toiling to find the sun,
Till they clove the dark asunder!

I will arise and climb,—
Higher to higher growing.
Hail to the four winds blowing,
And a good-morrow, Time!
If I but grow, for speech,
If I sing leaves, not words,
Yet will I call and reach,
O I will shelter the birds:—
Yes, I am here—and growing!