Firewood poems

Beachwood fires are bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year,

Chestnut’s only good they say,

If for logs ’tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,

Death within your house will be;

But ash new or ash old,

Is fit for a 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

Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.

Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,

E’en the very flames are cold

But ash green or ash brown

Is fit for a queen with golden crown

 

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,

Fills your eyes and makes you choke,

Apple wood will scent your room

Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old

keep away the winter’s cold

But ash wet or ash dry

a king shall warm his slippers by.

The firewood poem was written by Celia Congreve, is believed to be first published in THE TIMES newspaper on March 2nd 1930.

 

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 woodsman’s cries

never heed his usual tale
that he has good logs for sale
but read these lines and really learn
the proper kind of logs to burn

Beachwood fires burn bright and clear
Hornbeam blaxes too
if the logs are kept a year
and seasoned through and through

Oak logs will warm you well
if they’re old and dry
larch logs or pinewood smell
but the sparks will fly

pine is good an so is yew
for warmth through wintry days
but Poplar and willow too
take long to dry and blaze

Birch logs will burn too fast
Alder scarce at all
Chestnut log are good to last
if cut in the fall

Holly logs 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
burn up all that come your way

they’re worth their weight in gold.