Beneath a might oak tree some little acorns dropped
A squirrel was out foraging and in his tracks he stopped

He thought it was his lucky day as nuts fell at his feet
He gathered plenty, took them back for wife and kids to eat

He’d rather over-catered so on going to his drey
He buried some in little holes against a rainy day

But being fairly scatty he forgot about his loot
And after months of sun and rain the nut threw out a root

Then cotyledons opened, then small green leaves unfurled
Another miracle of growth was thrust into the world

The sapling weathered many storms and grew up strong and tall
And after many decades was the best tree of them all

But specimens as good as this were needed by the Fleet
Men cut it down with axe and saw and dropped it at their feet

Then cut it into planks and bent the green wood in a curve
And made a mighty ship in which young Francis Drake would serve

So consequently that small nut which fell onto the ground
Became a mighty war ship which sailed from Plymouth Sound.


Little acorn, mighty oak
Francis Drake, good bloke
Sailed the world in sturdy ship
Made with tree from single pip
 

© Mary Stewart - March 2017