Fire by hand drill

Fire by hand drill

Friday 4 February 2011

Logs to burn

I allways loved this poem and I thought I would share it.

Logs to burn; logs to burn;
Logs to save the coal a turn.

Here's a word to make you wise
when you hear the woodman's cries;
Never heed his usual tale
That he's splendid logs for sale
But read these lines & really learn
The proper kind of logs to burn.

Oak logs will warm you well,
If they're old and dry.
Larch logs of pinewoods smell
But the sparks will fly.
Beech logs for Christmas time;
Yew logs heat well;
'Scotch' logs it is a crime
For anyone to sell.
Birch logs will burn too fast;
Chestnut scarce at all;
Hawthorn logs are good to last
If cut in the fall.
Holly logs will burn like wax,
You should burn them green;
Elm logs like smouldering flax,
No flame to be seen.
Pear logs and apple logs,
They will scent your room;
Cherry logs across the dogs
Smell like flowers in bloom,
But ash logs all smooth and grey
Burn them green or old,
Buy up all that come your way
They're worth their weight in gold.

                Honor Goodhart, 1926

1 comment:

Gorges Smythe said...

This poem hangs on my wall. I'm sure you've heard some version of it.

In Praise of Ash

Beechwood fires are bright and clear,
If the logs are kept a year.
Chestnut’s only good, they say,
If for long ‘tis laid away.
But ash wood new or ash wood old,
Is fit for queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast,
Blaze up bright and do not last.
It is by the Irish said
That Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mold,
Even the very flames are cold.
But ash wood green or ash wood brown,
Is fit for queen with golden crown.

Poplar gives a bitter smoke—
Fills your eyes and makes you choke.
Apple wood will scent your room
With an incense like perfume.
Oaken logs if dry and old,
Will keep away the winter’s cold.
But ash wood wet or ash wood dry,
A king shall warm his slippers by.

English children’s rhyme
(edited)