Good Timber

Paraphrase.

Stanza No1.A tree that never faced the challenges of survival and never had to struggle for basic
resources like sun, air, and light, grows in an open area without any struggle or challenges. As a result, it
never achieved greatness or dominance, living and dying a feeble and insignificant life.

Stanza No 2. A person who never works hard to achieve his goals, who never had to earn his place in the
world and never strove to reap the rewards of his labor, never developed the resilience and strength of
character. And ultimately remained undeveloped and unchanged throughout his life.

Stanza No 3. Good timbers and good qualities always develop in hardships. Stronger winds make the
trees more strong and give potential to them. They get enough power from powerful storms. Good
timber in trees and fine qualities in men always grow due to facing the hardships of life.

Stanza 4. Where there the forest growth is , we can find founders of forefathers of both trees and men.
Due to their greatness, they consult with stars. Their broken branches show the wounds and scars of
their struggle against many wind sand hardships, at last, this becomes the common law of life that
nothing can be gained without pain.

Reference to the context

These lines have been ( this stanza has been) taken from the poem Good Timber written by
Douglas Malloch. Douglas was an American poet and a short-story writer, he was also known as
Lumberman’s poet. Good Timber is one of his most famous poems. In this poem Malloch
explores the themes of struggle, fulfillment, and nature. Those who live through “broken
branches” and storms will become “Good timber.”

The poem begins with the speaker describing how there are two types of trees and men. First,
there are those who are readily given everything they need to survive. This type of person or
tree never has to worry about where their food and water is going to come from.

On the other hand, there are the trees and men who must fight, from birth, to survive. Their
broken branches and scars are evidence of their ability to survive on and become “forest king.”

Throughout ‘Good Timber’ Malloch makes use of several literary devices. These include
metaphors, alliteration, and enjambment. This entire poem is one extended metaphor
comparing trees to human beings. It is a four stanza poem that is separated into sets of six
lines or sextets. The poem with consistent and structured rhyme scheme of aabbcc gives long
lasting effect to the readers.
Stanza 1

The poet begins with the speaker describing how there are two types of trees and men. He
used an extended metaphor to depict the similarities between men and other creature of
nature like trees. In the very first stanza he is talking about those particular type of trees which
was given everything what it was needed. It did not struggle. It got all the things easily e.g
food, water, air and light . the poet says that additionally due to its position in the open plain
where it was standing , it always got enough rain. Those particular type of tree that did’nt have
to fight for what it had. Such kind of tree cannot become strong and famous . in the last two
lines the speaker reveals the outcome of such a life. Such kind of trees would never become a
forest king or one of the largest and strongest trees in the forest. It will live an unimportant and
ordinary life like a scrubby thing, an unwanted thing, because it did not add anything from its
side, for improvement in the already available thing.

The poet uses several poetic devices to convey the idea that struggle is essential for growth and
success. Metaphorically, the tree is compared to a 'forest king', symbolizing its potential for
greatness. Personification is used when describing the tree as 'fighting' for resources, giving it
human-like qualities. Alliteration is present in the phrase 'sun and sky and air and light', creating
a musical quality. Imagery is used to paint vivid pictures of the tree's environment, like the
'open plain' and its eventual state as a 'scrubby thing'. These devices enhance the poem's
message, emphasizing that a life without challenges leads to unfulfilled potential.

Stanza 2

The poet compares the tree to the man who lived a similar life like tree” he didn’t struggle to
get his own piece of land which was necessary for living. He got all the things food water, air,
and light without any struggle. He does not worry about resources and basic need of life. Just
like tree was given all the elements of life it need, so too was the man given his share without
his effort. Those idle men who didn’t have to struggle what it had. He didn’t add his share, for
improvement in the already avoidable things. Those idle man who lived a life without a struggle
and remained on the same position throughout his life. The last two line reveal what would be
the outcome of such an idle man. He would never become a disciplined and brave member of
society . he would never become leader. His position ,socially, morally and economically would
not improve because he did not feel the need to reach beyond his readily availed resources. He
lives an ordinary life tree. .

"The poet uses metaphor, personification, alliteration, and imagery to convey the idea that
struggle is essential for growth and success. He employs metaphor when comparing the tree to
a 'forest king', symbolizing its potential for greatness. He uses personification when describing
the tree as 'fighting' for resources, giving it human-like qualities. Alliteration is present in the
phrase 'sun and sky and air and light', creating a musical quality. Finally, he uses vivid imagery
to paint pictures of the tree's environment, like the 'open plain' and its eventual state as a
'scrubby thing'. By using these poetic devices, the poet emphasizes that a life without
challenges means wasting one's potential.

Stanza 3

This stanza explain that good timber does not grow easily . A tree that is going to live a stronge
a successful life does not grow with ease it has to face difficulties to become a tree of good
timber it encounter with strong trees and its competitors others strong trees. Those who
already had a strong and successful life, already struggled and encounter with strong wind. A
tree of good timber has to cover a long distance to reach its height. It bears harsh and sever
condition of environment like more strong uncertain amount of sun, cold, rain and snow. Good
timber and good man don’t grow easily.

In this stanza the poet uses metaphor, personification, and imagery to convey the idea that
challenges are necessary for growth and strength. He employs metaphor when comparing good
timber to strong trees and men, symbolizing their potential for greatness. Personification is
used when describing the wind, sky, storm, sun, cold, rain, and snow as forces that shape and
strengthen trees and men. Imagery is used to paint vivid pictures of the natural world, like the
'stronger wind', 'further sky', and 'more storm', emphasizing the connection between nature
and personal growth. By using these poetic devices, the poet reinforces the idea that adversity
is essential for developing strength and character in both trees and men.

Stanza 4

The last sestet the poet describe the environment of the man and good timber tree both grow
in the thickest part of the forest . The poet tells us the importance of the tree of first stanza and
3 of the 4 stanza. The former grew in an open plain and did not at its share but the letter grew
away from sun light and added its share. Such trees and men to struggle , became the leader
and founder of their species . They are so high in their position that they talk with stars , having
deeper knowledge and wisdom and they commune with forces that other cannot understand,
they face the challenges of life they handle the harsh and sever condition of an environment.
The broken branches and the scars of the tree and the man show their tolerance and their
ability to fight with natural forces. It also shows their long and successful life. This is the law of
nature that struggle is necessary live a meaningful life.

The poet uses metaphor, personification, imagery, and symbolism to convey the idea that those
who have weathered life's challenges are the true leaders and wisdom-holders. He employs
metaphor when comparing the oldest trees to 'patriarchs', symbolizing their wisdom and
authority. Personification is used when describing the trees as holding 'counsel with the stars',
giving them a sense of celestial wisdom. Imagery is used to paint vivid pictures of the trees'
scars, 'broken branches', and the 'many winds and much of strife' they've endured. The 'stars'
and 'scars' are also used symbolically, representing guidance and experience. By using these
poetic devices, the poet highlights the idea that those who have faced and overcome adversity
are the true authorities and wisdom-holders in life