Poetry Amongst the Trees

Today is National Poetry Day. What inspires poetry more than a glorious tree? Can’t think of anything, in our humble books. CLC Tree Services might be biased, but there have been plenty of others who have obviously felt trees move them to poetic words. If Wordsworth, Yeats and Homer have all found inspiration in the presence of trees, we aren’t arguing.

Let’s celebrate both today;

We’re celebrating National Poetry Day with a few poems about trees

National Poetry Day

“And see the peaceful trees extend
their myriad leaves in leisured dance—
they bear the weight of sky and cloud
upon the fountain of their veins.”
–   Kathleen Raine, Envoi

“Tall thriving Trees confessed the fruitful Mold:
The reddening Apple ripens here to Gold,
Here the blue Fig with luscious Juice overflows,
With deeper Red the full Pomegranate glows,
The Branch here bends beneath the weighty Pear,
and verdant Olives flourish round the Year.”
–   Homer

“O chestnut tree, great rooted blossomer,
Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole?
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance.”
– William Butler Yeats, Among School Children

“As I age
in the world it will rise and spread,
and be for this place horizon
and orison, the voice of its winds.
I have made myself a dream to dream
of its rising, that has gentled my nights.
Let me desire and wish well the life
these trees may live when I
no longer rise in the mornings
to be pleased with the green of them
shining, and their shadows on the ground,
and the sound of the wind in them.”
– Wendell Berry, Planting Trees

“One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the ages can.”
–  William Wordsworth, The Tables Turned  

“I was raised by the song
Of the murmuring grove
And loving I learned
Among Flowers.”
–  Friedrich Holderlin