Lucero, Colin Jude M.

202013577
BAE 3-1 APT GNED 15

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.

"Trees" is a famous poem by Joyce Kilmer that describes the beauty and magnificence
of trees. The poem is composed of several poetic elements, which contribute to its beauty and
impact on readers. Here are some of the elements of poetry found in "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer:
Rhyme: "Trees" is a rhyming poem, and Kilmer uses a simple ABAB rhyme scheme throughout
the poem. For example, "I think that I shall never see / A poem lovely as a tree."
Meter: The poem has a regular meter, which adds to its musicality and rhythm. The meter is
iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambic feet. An iambic foot consists of
an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. For example, "I think that I shall never
see."
Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery to describe the beauty of trees. For example, "A tree
whose hungry mouth is prest / Against the earth's sweet flowing breast," creates a visual image
of a tree with roots reaching into the earth.
Personification: Kilmer personifies the trees, attributing human characteristics to them. For
example, "A tree that looks at God all day, / And lifts her leafy arms to pray." Here, the tree is
portrayed as a person who is in constant communication with God.
Repetition: The phrase "Poems are made by fools like me," is repeated twice in the poem. This
repetition emphasizes the speaker's humility and suggests that the true beauty of poetry lies in
the natural world.
Symbolism: Trees in the poem are symbolic of nature's beauty and the connection between
humanity and the natural world. They are portrayed as majestic and powerful, yet humble and
reverent.