High up in the apple tree climbing I go,
With the sky above me, the earth below.
Each branch is the step of a wonderful stair
Which leads to the town I see shining up there.
Climbing, climbing, higher and higher,
The branches blow and I see a spire,
The gleam of a turret1, the glint of a dome,
All sparkling and bright, like white sea foam2.
On and on, from bough3 to bough,
The leaves are thick, but I push my way through;
Before, I have always had to sTOP,
But to-day I am sure I shall reach the TOP.
Today to the end of the marvelous stair,
Where those glittering pinacles flash in the air!
Climbing, climbing, higher I go,
With the sky close above me, the earth far below.