Into the Green, I took my axe and wandered to a glade of the forest... I was never lost
Walking unseen, my only desire was some wood for my fire and a tranquil scene
Then I set to my scheme: hewing and cleaving all the branches of green
Fragments, splinters, they fell to my feet
Hardly perceiving, like a one in a dream... in a dream
Warmed to my theme, I failed in observing that the birds had ceased calling... I was lingering
Driven by greed, my only desire was some wood for my fire, so I took no heed
Then I set to my scheme: hewing and cleaving all the branches of green
Fragments, splinters, they fell to my feet
Hardly perceiving, like a one in a dream... in a dream
Then a dark and earthy stillness numbed my brain... so I did remain
By the tree roots on the mossy ground I lay
I did dream a Man in Green did look on me... eyes were burning
Round his face there grew some leaves abundantly
Then I slowly understood: a Spirit of the Wood
I tried to flee, but I was apprehended by some quick-growing tendrils, binding hand and knee
"Please let me be" I pleaded of the Green Man
"But my riddle you must solve" he said forcibly
Tell me: what has a bite... yet no teeth has it
Name a thing sharp and bright... but not clever
A tool for a fight... splitting, dividing all the wood in its sight... in its sight
"Now answer me, or you will be my captive in this glade of the forest ... be forever lost"
Then I did see that I must solve the riddle or the Green Man would then make a slave of me
I was thinking hard, then it came to me
And the answer that he wanted: that thing it was an axe