Four Trees upon a solitary Acre — The Independence

Four Trees－upon a solitary Acre－¹
Without Design
Or Order, or Apparent Action－
Maintain－

The Sun－upon a Morning meets them－⁵
The Wind－
No nearer Neighbor－have they－
But God－

The Acre gives them－Place－⁹
They－Him－Attention of Passer by－
Of Shadow, or of Squirrel, haply－
Or Boy－

What Deed is Theirs unto the General Nature－¹³
What Plan
They severally－retard－or further－
Unknown－

(F.778/J.742)

[1] Four Trees:: the four things George Washington conceived "are essential to the United States, as an independent power (11 June 1783)," later being called the Four Pillars of Independence. solitary Acre:: an independent country.
[2–4] Without Design, Maintain:: usually the condition of a new country.
[5] Sun:: the glory, the winning of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).
[6] Wind:: the act of winding, twisting.
[9] them:: people of the new country.
[10] Him:: George Washington, the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797.

"THE FOUR PILLARS OF INDEPENDENCE" There are four things, which, I humbly conceive, are essential to the well-being, I may even venture to say, to the existence of the United States, as an independent power. First. An indissoluble Union of the States under One Federal Head. Second. A sacred regard to Public Justice. Third, The adoption of a proper Peace Establishment. Fourth. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly disposition among the people of the United States, which will induce them to forget their local prejudices and politics; to make those mutual concessions which are requisite to the general prosperity; and, in some instances, to sacrifice their individual advantages to the interest of the community. These are the pillars, on which the glorious fabric of our independency and national character must be supported. ─ Maxims of Washington (1855)