PTSW: Woodcutter's Song

Woodcutter's Song

I found this poem/song among the comments on storyteller Sheila Kay Adams' Facebook wall. The words are traditional and from the old country -- penned by the famous Mother Goose, they say. It seems a good way to warm the start of a January week. And good advice if you have a woodburning hearth or stove.

Oak logs will warm you well  

That are old and dry  

Logs of pine will sweetly smell   

But the sparks will fly 

Birchs long will burn too fast  

Chestnut scarce at all sir  

Hawthorn logs are good to last  

That are cut well in the fall sir 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Surely you will find  

There´s no compare 

with the hard wood logs  

That´s cut in the winter time 
Holly logs will burn like wax 

You could burn them green  

Elm logs burn like smouldering flax  

With no flame to be seen  

Beech logs for winter time  

Yew logs as well sir  

Green elder logs it is a crime  

For any man to sell sir 

Surely you will find  

There´s no compare 

with the hard wood logs  

That´s cut in the winter time 
Pear logs and apple logs  

They will scent your room  

and cherry logs across the dogs  

They smell like flowers of broom  

But ash logs smooth and grey  

Buy them green or old, sir  

and buy up all that come your way 

They´re worth their weight in gold sir 

- Mother Goose