Explore "The Sweet Uses of Adversity" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
In Norway fiords, in summer-time, / The Norway birch is fair: / The white trunks shine, the green leaves twine, / The whole tree groweth tall and fine; / For all it wants is there,- / Water and warmth and air,- / Full fed in all its nature needs, and showing / That nature in perfection by its growing.
But follow the persistent tree / To the limit of endless snow / There you may see what a birch can be! / The product showeth plain and free / How nobly plants can grow / With nine months' winter slow. / 'Tis fitted to survive in that position, / Developed by the force of bad condition.
See now what life the tree doth keep,- / Branchless, three-leaved, and tough; / In June the leaf-buds peep, flowers in July dare creep / To bloom, the fruit in August, and then sleep. / Strong is the tree and rough, / It lives, and that's enough. / "Dog's-ear" the name the peasants call it by- / A Norway birch-and less than one inch high!
That silver monarch of the summer wood, / Tall, straight, and lovely, rich in all things good, / Knew not in his perversity / The sweeter uses of adversity!