WEBVTT

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This next poem is a poem
spoken by a father to his son.

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Part of the poem is spoken
directly by the father

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to the son, and part of
the poem is the father

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speaking to himself--

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its interior speech.

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And the situation is that the
father is teaching his son

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how to prune fruit trees.

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And the event of the
poem is the father

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giving his son instructions
on how to prune an apple tree.

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I'll try to indicate where the
father is speaking out loud

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and where he's speaking
to himself in the way I

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read the poem.

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"Pruning Fruit Trees."

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"Begin by cutting all branches
away that are now dead.

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It is March.

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One surely feels in
the air a softness

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that has not yet arrived.

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The cut must be made
close to the parent limb

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following the angle
of its growth.

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Used snow inches deep shows
yesterday's boot-prints,

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my son's and mine, circling
each other, circling each tree.

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Where equal branches now
divide, choose one and cut--

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it is not good that
they contend for vital .

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Sap the cut must be made
close to the parent limb,

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soon it will heal.

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The chickadees scold
us, by their feeder,

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they have their rights.

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Don't be afraid to cut--

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that's it, cut more, it's good
for the tree, lengthening life,

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making its fruit full.

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A farmer told me to
talk to the trees.

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Tell them, 'this
is good for you.'

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Speak softly.

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Thank them.

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It is June.

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Our footprints faintly circle
the trees in the moist grass.

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Like little berries,
the fruit is hard.

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They will make it,
they will hold on.

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See, they will hold on, they
will ripen, they will do well.

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It is June .

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I have learned to
ask for nothing more.

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I have never been
happier than this.

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Tell them they will do well.

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As wind flutters their
leaves, praise them.

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It is March.

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The cut must be made
close to the parent limb.

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