The Trees Summary Class 10 English

Summary of Poem The Trees

The Trees (Poem)

The trees inside are moving out into the forest,

the forest that was empty all these days

where no bird could sit

no insect hide

no sun bury its feet in shadow

the forest that was empty all these nights

will be full of trees by morning.

All night the roots work

to disengage themselves from the cracks

in the veranda floor.

The leaves strain toward the glass

small twigs stiff with exertion

long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof

like newly discharged patients

half-dazed, moving

to the clinic doors.

I sit inside, doors open to the veranda

writing long letters

in which I scarcely mention the departure

of the forest from the house.

The night is fresh, the whole moon shines

in a sky still open

the smell of leaves and lichen

still reaches like a voice into the rooms.

My head is full of whispers

which tomorrow will be silent.

Listen. The glass is breaking.

The trees are stumbling forward

into the night. Winds rush to meet them.

The moon is broken like a mirror,

its pieces flash now in the crown of the tallest oak.

By ADRIENNE RICH

The Trees Summary

"The Trees" is a poignant poem by the acclaimed American poet Adrienne Rich. It explores the theme of nature and its relationship with the human world. Through vivid imagery, the poem portrays the trees' desire to return to their natural habitat, emphasizing the delicate balance that exists between humans and the environment. The poem ultimately delivers a powerful message about the resilience and strength of nature in the face of human intervention.

In the opening stanza, Rich sets the stage for the poem, describing trees that have been confined indoors and are now making their way back to the forest. The forest is described as empty, devoid of life, with no birds, insects, or even the sun's shadows able to exist within it. This emptiness creates a sense of longing, as though the forest is yearning for the return of the trees.

The second stanza delves into the trees' nocturnal efforts to free themselves from the confines of the house. Rich illustrates the trees' struggle, using vivid imagery to describe their roots disentangling from the cracks in the veranda floor, and their leaves straining against the glass windows. The small twigs are described as "stiff with exertion," while the long-cramped boughs shuffle "like newly discharged patients" under the roof.

This comparison to patients who are half-dazed and disoriented as they move towards the clinic doors conveys the trees' vulnerability and eagerness to return to their natural environment. Rich masterfully brings the trees to life, depicting them as characters with their emotions and desires, rather than mere lifeless objects.

As the poem continues, the narrator recounts their experience of sitting inside the house with the doors open to the veranda, writing long letters. They casually mention the departure of the forest from the house, suggesting that the process is gradual and almost unnoticeable. This understatement reflects the human tendency to overlook the impact of their actions on the environment.

The atmosphere of the poem shifts as the night progresses, and the night's freshness and the full moon shining in the open sky create a sense of anticipation. The smell of leaves and lichen fills the rooms, described as reaching "like a voice" into the house, further emphasizing the connection between the trees and the narrator.

The following lines illustrate the narrator's thoughts as they listen to the whispers of the trees, which will become silent by the morning. These whispers signify the trees' collective yearning for freedom and a return to their natural habitat.

As the poem reaches its climax, the sound of glass breaking signifies the trees' successful escape. They stumble forward into the night, welcomed by the winds that rush to meet them. The image of the broken moon reflecting in the tallest oak's crown suggests the trees' triumph and liberation.

In conclusion, Adrienne Rich's poem "The Trees" is a powerful exploration of the relationship between humans and nature. Rich uses vivid imagery and personification to give the trees agency and emotion, emphasizing the delicate balance between the human world and the environment. The poem serves as a reminder that nature is resilient and persistent, ultimately prevailing against human intervention.

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