"Trees" - Joyce Kilmer

 Show how the poet traces the growth of a tree, giving it a human quality

A giant oak tree on the campus of Cook College, a part of Rutgers University inspired Joyce Kilmer, an American poet to write the poem “Trees”. It is a nature poem that celebrates the beauty of trees, created by God. The poet is amazed at the beauty of a tree and feels that no poet can write a poem that is as beautiful as a tree. Then the poet describes the tree as a baby. When the tree is growing, its roots go down deep into the ground, drawing up nourishment from the earth as a baby sucks milk from its mother’s breast. Next, the tree is personified as a child praying to God. The tree is looking up to God in Sky lifting up her arms like branches in prayer. Thirdly, the tree is described as a young woman wearing a pretty dress in summer with a nest of robins in her hair. As the seasons change the fully grown tree experiences the different seasons. Snow falls on the tree in winter and in the rainy season, it is drenched. It is like a woman who is married and undergoes all the experiences of life. The poet ends the poem, by saying that any human being like the poet can write a poem using words that are insubstantial but only God can make a tree grow. God’s creation inspires the poet. The contrasts in the poem are between the poet and God as creators, and the poem and the tree. It is in a sense a religious poem. It implies that all objects in nature worship God as the tree does with uplifted branches. The poet joins nature in proclaiming that God is the creator of the world.

1.     Describe the tree as a baby and a young child.

A giant oak tree on the campus of Cook College, a part of Rutgers University inspired Joyce Kilmer, an American poet to write the poem “Trees”. It is a nature poem that celebrates the beauty of trees, created by God. The poet is amazed at the beauty of a tree and feels that no poet can write a poem that is as beautiful as a tree. Then the poet describes the tree as a baby. When the tree is growing, its roots go down deep into the ground, drawing up nourishment from the earth as a baby sucks milk from its mother’s breast. The tree’s roots growing into the ground are compared to the lips of a baby pressed to its mother’s breast as it sucks milk.

2.     Describe the tree as a young girl and a grown-up woman.

A giant oak tree on the campus of Cook College, a part of Rutgers University inspired Joyce Kilmer, an American poet to write the poem “Trees”. It is a nature poem that celebrates the beauty of trees, created by God. The poet is amazed at the beauty of a tree and feels that no poet can write a poem that is as beautiful as a tree. Then the poet describes the tree as a baby. Secondly, the tree is personified as a child praying to God. The tree is looking up to God in Sky lifting up her arms like branches in prayer. The outspread branches of the tree covered with leaves are like human arms lifted in prayer to God.

3.     Show in what way the poet compares himself with God.

The poet ends the poem “Trees”, by saying that any human being like the poet can write a poem using words that are insubstantial but only God can make a tree grow. God’s creation inspires the poet. The contrasts in the poem are between the poet and God as creators, and the poem and the tree. The poet refers to himself as a fool because he feels that he has done something unimportant in only writing a small poem about a tree in comparison. With God who makes a beautiful tree grow. It is in a sense a religious poem. It implies that all objects in nature worship God as the tree does with uplifted branches. The poet joins nature in proclaiming that God is the creator of the world.

4.     Describe the five different stages in the growth of the tree.

A giant oak tree on the campus of Cook College, a part of Rutgers University inspired Joyce Kilmer, an American poet to write the poem “Trees”. It is a nature poem that celebrates the beauty of trees, created by God. The poet is amazed at the beauty of a tree and feels that no poet can write a poem that is as beautiful as a tree. Then the poet describes the tree as a baby. Secondly, the tree is personified as a child praying to God. Thirdly, the tree is described as a young woman wearing a pretty dress in summer with a nest of robins in her hair. As the seasons change the fully grown tree experiences the different seasons. Snow falls on the tree in winter and in the rainy season, it is drenched. It is like a woman who is married and undergoes all the experiences of life.