A garland of quotations CXIX

(Upcoming appearances: May 10, 12–3, Branford Book Festival, Main St., Branford CT | June 1, 12–5, Skullastic Book Fair, American Legion Post 16, Shelton CT | July 15, 6–7:30, author talk, Hagaman Library, East Haven CT)

Have I sunk so low as to enable tips?

Man envies the tree, the butterfly envies man.
•Dumas, The Wolf-Leader (1857).

Everybody who’s anybody longs to be a tree—
or ride one, hair blown to froth.
•Rita Dove, “Horse and Tree” (1989).

I could be content that we might procreate like trees,...