TREES
— Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
— Comments —
Hurricane Betsy writes:
The poem “Trees” sure brought back memories for me. We had to memorize it in school. How about you? I have always loved that poem. I can’t cut down a living tree while it grows. I wait til winter.
We also had to memorize the major soliloquies from MacBeth, Julius Caesar, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merchant of Venice & Hamlet and some other one I can’t remember. Some of these in elementary school. Standing up in class. I recall writing an essay in eighth grade about why I thought we should not have to study Shakespeare. The (practice) teacher who gave us this assignment said it was well written but “I do not agree with your viewpoint.” Ha ha ha. FWIW.
Laura writes:
It was hugely popular. I didn’t, but my husband memorized it in school too.
Here’s an over-the-top version of the song by the Platters.
