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Advent Hymnals

SDA Hymnal 414

Fruitful Trees, the Spirit's Sowing

Words: Timothy Dudley-SmithMusic: John Stainer

Studio

1Fruitful trees, the Spirit's sowing,
May we ripen and increase,
Fruit to life eternal growing,
Rich in love and joy and peace.

2Laden branches freely bearing
Gifts the Giver loves to bless;
Here is fruit that grows by sharing,
Patience, kindness, gentleness.

3Rooted deep in Christ, our Master,
Christ, our pattern and our goal,
Teach us, as the years fly faster,
Goodness, faith, and self-control.

4Fruitful trees, the Spirit's tending,
May we grow till harvest cease;
Till we taste, in life unending,
Heaven's love and joy and peace.

© 1984 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The verse

Meter
8.7.8.7
Foot
trochaic (DUM-da) · 77% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABAB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

Fruitful trees, the Spirit's sowing,/˘/˘/˘/˘8A
May we ripen and increase,˘˘/˘˘//7B
Fruit to life eternal growing,/˘/˘/˘/˘8A
Rich in love and joy and peace./˘/˘/˘/7B

Verse 2

Laden branches freely bearing/˘/˘/˘/˘8A
Gifts the Giver loves to bless;/˘/˘/˘/7B
Here is fruit that grows by sharing,/˘/˘/˘/˘8A
Patience, kindness, gentleness./˘/˘/˘˘7C

Verse 3

Rooted deep in Christ, our Master,/˘/˘//˘/˘9A
Christ, our pattern and our goal,//˘/˘˘/˘/9B
Teach us, as the years fly faster,/˘˘˘///˘8A
Goodness, faith, and self-control./˘/˘???7C

Verse 4

Fruitful trees, the Spirit's tending,/˘/˘/˘/˘8A
May we grow till harvest cease;˘˘///˘/7B
Till we taste, in life unending,/˘/˘/˘/˘8A
Heaven's love and joy and peace./˘/˘/˘/7B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.