Into the Woods

Into the woods my Master went,
Clean forspent, forspent,
Into the woods my Master came,
Forspent with love and shame.
But the olives they were not blind to Him.
The little grey leaves were kind to Him,
The thorn tree had a mind to Him,
When into the woods He came.

Out of the woods my Master came
And he was well content;
Out of the woods my Master came,
Content with death and shame.
When death and shame would woo Him last,
From under the trees they drew Him last,
’Twas on a tree they slew Him—last
When out of the woods He came.

Author: Sidney Lanier

Year: 1880

This is the well-known poem 'A Ballad of Trees and the Master' by Sidney Lanier, often set as a hymn or sacred song. The given title 'Into the Woods' is a common alternate or shortened title drawn from the first line.