Throughout history, trees have been a popular subject in poetry, symbolizing strength, resilience, and the beauty of nature. Here are a few examples of English poems that celebrate the magnificence of trees:
1. "Trees" by 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."
2. "The Oak Tree" by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.
"The oak tree in the forest,
That was twined around with ivy,
Had grown so tall and mighty,
It reached up to the sky.
The ivy was so happy,
It had found a place to grow,
And the oak was very happy,
For the ivy helped it show.
The oak was very grateful,
For the ivy’s loving care,
And the ivy was so grateful,
For the oak that was so fair."
3. "Birches" by Robert Frost
"When I see birches bend to left and right
Across the lines of straighter darker trees,
I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.
But swinging doesn’t bend them down to stay.
Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen them
Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning
After a rain. They click upon themselves
As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored
As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.
Soon the sun’s warmth makes them shed crystal shells
Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust—
Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away
You’d think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.
They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,
And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed
So low for long, they never right themselves:
You may see their trunks arching in the woods
Years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground
Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair
Before them over their heads to dry in the sun."
These poems capture the essence of trees in different ways, highlighting their beauty, resilience, and connection to nature. Trees have inspired poets for centuries, serving as a powerful symbol of life, growth, and strength. Next time you see a tree, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and the poetry it inspires.
