2a

Into a great tree a small worm did go



33

It wormed its way inwards and soon it did grow



2f

The tree was unhappy but what could it do?



36

It stood there in silence: the worm grew and grew



2f

The tree was unhappy but what could it say



30

The worm kept on growing the tree sank away



5





30

The worm was so greedy it ate more each day



32

And each day it ate more the tree shrank away



32

The worm was so loathsome it felt no disgrace



3b

The birds had been silenced the sun shunned that place



2e

And all of the forest grew fearful to see



31

What terrible fate lay in store for the tree



5





38

The worm grew so monstrous its greed knew no bounds



32

The smell was so awful if poisoned the ground



34

And all of the creatures that lived in the wood



3b

Were sickened and starving the worm spoiled their food



39

The birds would not sing and the sun could not shine



32

The forest lay dirty and blackened with grime



5





33

Now down in the forest a young man went riding



35

He passed by the great tree and saw it was dying



35

The leaves and the bark were all rotten and rife



38

The tree had been poisoned and drained for its life



33

He stripped of a piece of the bark of the tree



3b

And straight'way he know what the right cure should be



5





33

The man built a fire and chopped down the tree



37

The worm started screaming it could not break free



3a

It trashed and it lashed but it could net break loose



31

Trapped in that tree like a thief in a noose



31

The worm burst asunder a vile smelling crust



30

He hacked it to pieces and burnt it to dust



5





32

The forest seemed clearer and peacful at last



37

Like after a storm when the rainclouds have passed



34

And although the great tree was fallen and dead



35

They knew from the ashes a new life would spread



34

Yes although the great tree had fallen and died



34

They knew from the ashes a new one would thrive



5





39

Now years may have passed since the tale i have told



38

Yet the truth of this story does still seem to hold



35

Although from a great tree a small worm may grow



33

That eats it with poison and tortures its soul



34

The worm can be killed yet the tree be not dead



3b

For from the roots of the elder a new life will spread



4