--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And after a long time the boy came back…" description: "\"“And after a long time the boy came back again. \"I am sorry, Boy,\" said the tree, \"but I have nothing left to give you- My apples are gone.\" \"My teeth ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/shel-silverstein-1914_long-time_and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back_2990235.jpg" --- # And after a long time the boy came back again. "I am… ![“And after a long time the boy came back again. "I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you- My apples are gone." "My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy. "My branches are gone," said the tree. "You cannot swing on them-" "I am too old to swing on branches," said…” quote by Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/shel-silverstein-1914_long-time_and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back_2990235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/shel-silverstein-1914_long-time_and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back_2990235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/shel-silverstein-1914_long-time_and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back_2990235.jpg) > ““And after a long time the boy came back again. "I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you- My apples are gone." "My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy. "My branches are gone," said the tree. "You cannot swing on them-" "I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy. "My trunk is gone," said the tree. "You cannot climb-" "I am too tired to climb," said the boy. "I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something... but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry..." "I don't need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet pleace to sit and rest. I am very tired." "Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "well, an old stump is a good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy.”” [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dialogue shows the tree’s loss and the boy’s simple need, highlighting that even when resources are depleted, offering a place of rest can bring mutual comfort. **In simple terms:** Even a depleted tree can offer rest and happiness. Key Takeaway Find value in what remains when you feel empty. Themes generosity aging comfort mutual support Mood reflective gentle Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - elderly care - mental health breaks - community support - environmental stewardship Key Concepts interdependence acceptance simplicity Questions to Reflect On - What simple comforts can you provide when you have little? - How does accepting limited resources change relationships? A Different Perspective If the boy demanded more, the tree could not comply, showing limits of giving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [“I don’t suppose there’ll be a tree left standing, for ever so far around, by the time we’re finished.’” Tweedledum to tweedledee \[They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-don-t-suppose-there-ll-be-a-tree-left-standing-for-ever-so-far/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“It was Will, filling the doorway with his lanky, broad-shouldred frame. His blue eyes where thunderous. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-was-will-filling-the-doorway-with-his-lanky-broad-shouldred-frame/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I had a dream about you last night... you sat in a cardboard box and said you were a tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-mckay/i-had-a-dream-about-you-last-night-you-sat-in-a-cardboard-box-and/) [Nicole McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-mckay/) > [“As we think about the next 50 years, I remember a story President Kennedy told a week before he was killed. The story was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-n-minnow/as-we-think-about-the-next-50-years-i-remember-a-story-president/) Newton N. Minnow > [“As we walked back to the car, Johnny said, "A tree's one thing, but it's a big deal when you point a gun at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-we-walked-back-to-the-car-johnny-said-a-tree-s-one-thing-but-it-s/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“There's a tree," Starflight said, jumping to his feet. "In the forest." "No way ," Glory said. "A tree in the forest ?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tui-t-sutherland/there-s-a-tree-starflight-said-jumping-to-his-feet-in-the-forest-no/) [Tui T. Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tui-t-sutherland/) > [“This young woman knew that she would die in the next few days. But when I talked to her she was cheerful in spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/this-young-woman-knew-that-she-would-die-in-the-next-few-days-but/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“The Tree and the Reed "Well, little one," said a Tree to a Reed that was growing at its foot, "why do you not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/the-tree-and-the-reed-well-little-one-said-a-tree-to-a-reed-that-was/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“Life won’t just happen to you, boy,” he said. “You have to happen to it. Remember: The spirit grows sluggish when you neglect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/life-won-t-just-happen-to-you-boy-he-said-you-have-to-happen-to-it/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“there was a 4 year old child whose next door neighbor was  an elderly man who had just lost his wife. When the child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-posch/there-was-a-4-year-old-child-whose-next-door-neighbor-was-an-elderly/) John Posch > [It is the world, my boy," he said. "All the World, in ink and blood, vellum and parchment, leather and hide. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/it-is-the-world-my-boy-he-said-all-the-world-in-ink-and-blood-vellum/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“I'm glad this happened," he said softly. I hoped it was for real,and I didn't want to talk about it too much and ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/i-m-glad-this-happened-he-said-softly-i-hoped-it-was-for-real-and-i/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“Spoon!” James said, running at his uncle Gabriel and jabbing him in the thigh. Gabriel mussed the boy’s hair affectionately. “You’re such a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/spoon-james-said-running-at-his-uncle-gabriel-and-jabbing-him-in-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [He was just hungry, Papa. He's going to die. He's going to die anyway. He's so scared, Papa. The man squatted and looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-was-just-hungry-papa-he-s-going-to-die-he-s-going-to-die-anyway-he/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“And there's a cop over there." "What?" the boy said, glancing at the D.C. police officer that stood at the corner of the street,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/and-there-s-a-cop-over-there-what-the-boy-said-glancing-at-the-d-c/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) ## More by Shel Silverstein > [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Oh, I'm being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/oh-i-m-being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Many leaves one tree”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/many-leaves-one-tree/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Magic Sandra’s seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/magic-sandra-s-seen-a-leprechaun-eddie-touched-a-troll-laurie-danced/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don't think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-has-the-obligation-to-society-that-any-human-being-has-i-don-t/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out! She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/sarah-cynthia-sylvia-stout-would-not-take-the-garbage-out-she-d-scour/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/to-me-freedom-entitles-you-to-do-something-not-to-not-do-something/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ol' man Simon, planted a diamond. Grew hisself a garden the likes of none. Sprouts all growin' comin' up glowin' Fruit of jewels all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ol-man-simon-planted-a-diamond-grew-hisself-a-garden-the-likes-of/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ma and God God gave us fingers--Ma says, "Use your fork." God gave us voices--Ma says, "Don't scream." Ma says eat broccoli, cereal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ma-and-god-god-gave-us-fingers-ma-says-use-your-fork-god-gave-us/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Ourchestra: So you haven't got a drum, just beat your belly. So I haven't got a horn-I'll play my nose. So we haven't any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ourchestra-so-you-haven-t-got-a-drum-just-beat-your-belly-so-i-haven/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too never returned to the world they knew and nobody knows what happened to dear ickle me, pickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ickle-me-pickle-me-tickle-me-too-never-returned-to-the-world-they/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I would hope that people, no matter what age, would find something to identify with in my books, pick one up and experience a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-would-hope-that-people-no-matter-what-age-would-find-something-to/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [What you've got to say, you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/what-you-ve-got-to-say-you-say/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [G'bye, I'm going out to play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/g-bye-i-m-going-out-to-play/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/a-spider-lives-inside-my-head-who-weaves-a-strange-and-wondrous-web/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) [Explore all 198 Shel Silverstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## More Long time quotes > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Forever is a really long time, you know? What do you do with forever?" "The same thing you do when you don't have forever."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/forever-is-a-really-long-time-you-know-what-do-you-do-with-forever/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“For a very long time, Viviane and Jack lived in that world people inhabit before love. Some people called that place friendship; others called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslye-walton/for-a-very-long-time-viviane-and-jack-lived-in-that-world-people/) [Leslye Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslye-walton/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [“For a long time before I met you, I felt my life was this kind of test. I was in deep, cold water, swimming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/for-a-long-time-before-i-met-you-i-felt-my-life-was-this-kind-of-test/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [“If you go to bed too early and get up too late you probably won't sleep especially well. This could show up as either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-a-lewis/if-you-go-to-bed-too-early-and-get-up-too-late-you-probably-won-t/) [Penelope A. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-a-lewis/) > [I have been famous for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/i-have-been-famous-for-a-long-time/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) Browse all 9,064 Long time quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And after a long time the boy came back again. \"I am sorry, Boy,\" said the tree, \"but I have nothing left to give you- My apples are gone.\" \"My teeth are too weak for apples,\" said the boy. \"My branches are gone,\" said the tree. \"You cannot swing on them-\" \"I am too old to swing on branches,\" said the boy. \"My trunk is gone,\" said the tree. \"You cannot climb-\" \"I am too tired to climb,\" said the boy. \"I am sorry,\" sighed the tree. \"I wish that I could give you something... but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry...\" \"I don't need very much now,\" said the boy, \"just a quiet pleace to sit and rest. I am very tired.\" \"Well,\" said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, \"well, an old stump is a good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.\" And the boy did. And the tree was happy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shel Silverstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back-again-i-am-sorry-boy-said-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Long time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back-again-i-am-sorry-boy-said-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/shel-silverstein-1914_long-time_and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back_2990235.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/shel-silverstein-1914_long-time_and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back_2990235.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/shel-silverstein-1914_long-time_and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back_2990235.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And after a long time the boy came back again. \"I am sorry, Boy,\" said the tree, \"but I have nothing left to…” — Shel Silverstein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shel Silverstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And after a long time the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back-again-i-am-sorry-boy-said-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/and-after-a-long-time-the-boy-came-back-again-i-am-sorry-boy-said-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```