Song of the Trees Quotes

“One thing you can’t seem to understand, Andersen,” Papa said, “is that a black man’s always gotta be ready to die. And it don’t make me any difference if I die today or tomorrow. Just as long as I die right.”
― Mildred D. Taylor, Song of the Trees

“On the ground lay countless trees. Trees that had once been such strong, tall things. So strong that I could fling my arms partially around one of them and feel safe and secure. So tall and leafy green that their boughs had formed a forest temple.

And old.

So old that Indians had once built fires at their feet and had sung happy songs of happy days.

So old, they had hidden fleeing black men in the night and listened to their sad tales of a foreign land.”
― Mildred D. Taylor, Song of the Trees

“Around shaggy-bark hickories and sharp-needled pines, past blue-gray beeches and sturdy black walnuts I sailed while my laughter resourced through the ancient forest, filling every chink.”
― Mildred D. Taylor, Song of the Trees