“Trees” – “Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree”

“Poetic Wednesday”

Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) is an American poet. He was killed in action, at the age of 32, in the Second Battle of Marne in the final days of WW I.  “Trees” is his most popular poem.

TREES

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A Tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks to 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.

                      –Alfred Joyce Kilmer

“Only God can make a tree”