The Hangman's Tree Poem by Nancy Ames

(The setting is a mountainside during the gold rush of the 19th century, and the hangman is talking to a youngster.)


'It's a real nice view for dying,
when the sun comes from the east,
and the ponderosa's sighing
will go on when he's deceased.

This man forgot that wrong's not right, son,
and then he went and took some lives,
tried to sneak off in the night, son,
took their gold and left his knives.

He says he wants to send a letter,
he 'loves his Mom' and all them things,
but now it looks as though he'd better
get born again before he swings.'