The Sugarplum Tree
Words, Eugene Field, 1850-1889
Tune, D. L.Marshall
In 1951 my sister Dawn was born and I was at the heighth of my poetry
involvement of reading as well as writing poetry. I was 16.
Then came my brother Alfred, who I named Butch because he was born with
blonde hair standing straight up on his head, a butch hair-cut as it was
known then. I became a sort of second mother to the two of them which
included rocking them to sleep. A perfect combination to set my favorite
poems to tunes I made up to fit the poems. Hence, this one.
1. Have you ever heard of the Sugarplum Tree,
'Tis a marvel
of great renown.
It blooms on the shore of the
lollipop-tree,
In the garden
of shut-eye town.
And the fruit that it bears
is so wonderously sweet,
As those who
have tasted it say,
That good little children have only
to eat
Of that fruit
to be happy next day.
2. When you get to that tree,
You would
have a hard time,
To capture the fruit of which I sing,
For the tree
is so tall where the sugarplums swing.
But up in that tree sits a chocolate
cat,
A gingerbread
dog prowls below.
This is the way you contrive to get
at
The sugarplums
tempting you so.
3. You say but the word to that gingerbread dog,
And he barks
with such terrible zest,
That the chocolate cat is at once
all agog,
As her swelling
purportions attest.
And the cchocolate cat goes cavorting
around
From this
leafy limb unto that,
Sugarplums tumble of course to the
ground,
Hurrah!
For the chocolate cat!
4. There are marshmallows, gumdrops and pepermint
canes,
With striplings
of scarlet and gold
And you carry away as the treasure
rains,
As much as
your apron can hold.
So come, little child, cuddle closer
to me
In your dainty
white nightcap and gown,
And I'll rock you away to that
Sugarplum Tree,
In the garden
of shut-eye town.