The poem encourages gently teaching children the Buddha's way through kindness and good examples, as how they are guided in their youth shapes the patterns that guide them in their lives, just as a twig bent young grows into a bent tree. It asks adults to set the right example for children so they do not go down the path of evil, but are instead taught the right path to follow in their youth so they will stay on the Lord Buddha's Path of Truth for their whole lives.

1. Twig And The Tree

2. Twig And The Tree A Buddhist Hymn

3. Gently teach the little children How to walk the Buddha's way

4. Show with kindness and affection What to do and what to say

5. Even as a tiny twig, if twisted Grows into a twisted tree

6. So do man and woman follow Patterns learned from infancy

7. Let us then make sure that always Example right we clearly show

8. So that our youth's life may never Down the path of evil go

9. Teach the young the path to follow

10. Show them in their days of youth

11. And when old they'll never waver From Lord Buddha's Path of Truth

12. May we be morally upright

13. Do Good. Be Good. Follow The Wise

14. Gently teach the little children How to walk the Buddha's way

15. Show with kindness and affection What to do and what to say

16. Even as a tiny twig, if twisted Grows into a twisted tree

17. So do man and woman follow Patterns learned from infancy

18. Let us then make sure that always Example right we clearly show

19. So that our youth's life may never Down the path of evil go

20. Teach the young the path to follow

21. Show them in their days of youth

22. And when old they'll never waver From Lord Buddha's Path of Truth

23. From Lord Buddha’s Path of Truth

24. The End May We Walk The Path To Enlightenment With Metta, Bro. Oh Teik Bin