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The heart of the tree
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Explanations, summary and important points on the poem "the heart of the tree" by Henry cuyler bunner.
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The heart of the treeHenry Cuyler Bunner
Poem at a glance :
~ The poem is about a list of things that a person initiates when he plants a tree
~ Trees add beauty to nature
~ Trees provide nests to birds
~ Trees ensure cool breezes
~Trees are our natural heritage
~Trees are the joy of the future generations
~Trees are planted for public good and country’s devlopment
Summary :
This poem provides the readers with a list of things that a person plants when s/he
plants a tree. We all know how trees are significant for natural order, for human
beings and their existence. The poet presents a list of rewards that a tree provides.
The poem is a graceful and sensitive presentation of the advantages of planting
trees and its importance for the development of a nation.
Justification of the title :
The title of the poem “the heart of the tree” is apt as the poet enlists the advantages
of planting trees. When one plants a tree, he does not merely plant a tree but makes
an addition to nature which one day the people of this world are going to enjoy. In
the heart of the person who plans a tree, stirs an emotion of planting the growth of
a nation. Thus the poet celebrates the plants, the nature and the person who plants
a tree. The poet presents how a plant is the heart of the developmental process and
how planting trees is the sure way to progress and how planting trees is core to the
existence of future generations. Therefore, the title of the poem is justified.
Paraphasing and explanations :
STANZA 1
The poet starts the poem wuth a question to the readers asking what the person who plants a tree really plants? The question seems awkward at first, but as we read through the poem we understand what the poet means by this question as whoever plants a tree does not merely plant a tree but plants a host of rewards for the present and the future generations and contributes towards development. The person who plants a tree adds something more to nature and the poet says it is as if adding
asadding
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if
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beauty
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birds
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istherefore
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The poet starts the poem with a question to the readers asking what the person
who plants a tree really plants? The question seems awkward in the beginning, but
as we read through the poem we understand what the poet means by this question
as whoever plants a tree does not merely plant a tree but plants a host of rewards
for the present and the future generations and contributes towards development.
The person who plants a tree adds something more to nature and the poet says it is
as if adding one more friend to the sun and the sky. He moreover plants the means
through which more and more breezes will sooth mankind. Trees are epitome of
beauty for the poet and therefore he says that as the little plants grow into trees
they add streak of beauty to nature. This kind of beauty makes the world more
, heavenly and therefore the poet opines that the person who plants a tree makes a
home which is almost like heaven. Moreover the person provides the space for the
birds to build up their nests and in those nests one can listen the sweet soft songs
of the birds as the mother birds sing them to the younger ones. The poet compares
the planting of the tree to scoring a treble in a dartboard game when a player
creates a perfect harmony.
STANZA 2
In the second stanza, the poet further elaborates on what all things the person
who plants a tree adds to the world. According to the poet, the person brings in
shade as the tree provides cooling shade to the people and animals. It is thought
that more trees bring in more rains and therefore the poet believes that planting
of trees is inviting rain, the lifeline of mankind in terms of providing fresh water.
The trees are as if the "seed and bud" of days to come. The poet means that as
within a seed lies the future plant and within a bud, the future beautiful flower;
similarly when a person plants a tree, s/he is planting a beautiful day which is
about to come. The plants provide the seasonal cycle its beauty as the poet
mentions it by "the years that fade and flush again." A season goes again to come
back in a new form. Similarly the trees fade away again to flush into life and
provide bundles of joy to the people.
The poet then refers to trees as "glory of the plain" in the sense that plain land
is made beautiful and scenic with the addition of trees. By "forest's heritage", the
poet means that environment is our natural heritage. So when someone plants a
tree s/he adds more to our heritage. Plants are not only heritage in the sense that
we have inherited them from the past and pass on to the future generations; but
also they are the harvest of the age to come, in the sense that they will provide
the resources to mankind to survive and prosper. As a person who plants a tree
actually plants a good future, the poet thinks that trees are the joys of the children
who are yet to be born.
STANZA 3
In the third stanza the poet further elaborates the list of the advantages of
planting trees and says that the person who plants a tree makes every attempt to
create something which is for the public good. The person may not be able to reap
all the benefits that his or her planted tree is going to provide to mankind; other
people will reap its benefits; and therefore the poet thinks that a tree is planted
by an individual who thinks of doing good to others. The poet further compares
planting of a tree with a blessing that the person who is planting the tree is giving
to the people who live in the neighbourhood of the tree. When a person is trying
to plant a tree s/he takes the sapling of the tree in both hands which is presented
beautifully as "in the hollow of His hand" which creates in our mind the imagery
of the person trying to give a gift to mankind with all his love. Moreover, as
the poet
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