“Trees” Introduction

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“Trees” Summary

“Trees” Themes

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  Human Art vs. Divine Creation

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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Trees”

• Lines 1-2

  I think that I shall never see
  A poem lovely as a tree.

  

  

  

  

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• Lines 3-4

  A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
  Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

  

  

  

  

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• Lines 5-6

  A tree that looks at God all day,
  And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

  

  

  

  

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• Lines 7-8

  A tree that may in summer wear
  A nest of robins in her hair;

  

  

  

  

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• Lines 9-10

  Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
  Who intimately lives with rain.

  

  

  

  

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• Lines 11-12

  Poems are made by fools like me,
  But only God can make a tree.

  

  

  

  

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“Trees” Symbols

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  Snow and Rain

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“Trees” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

• Alliteration

  

  

  

  

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• Anaphora

  

  

  

  

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• Consonance

  

  

  

  

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• Enjambment

  

  

  

  

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• Personification

  

  

  

  

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• Juxtaposition

  

  

  

  

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“Trees” Vocabulary

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• Shall
• Prest
• Bosom

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Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Trees”

• Form

• Meter

• Rhyme Scheme

“Trees” Speaker

“Trees” Setting

Literary and Historical Context of “Trees”

More “Trees” Resources

• External Resources

  • Kilmer's Life and Work — Read a longer biography of Joyce Kilmer over at the Poetry Foundation. 

  • "Trees" Out Loud — Listen to a reading of the poem, complete with illustrations.  

  • More Poems About Trees — Trees have a long, rich tradition in poetry; check out more poems on the subject here.

  • The Tragedy of Joyce Kilmer — An in-depth article about Kilmer's life, work, and tragic early death. 

  • The Platters Sing "Trees" — Listen to a musical version of the poem by The Platters, a famous American vocal group formed in 1952.