15+ Must-Read Poems about Trees

(15 to start, 75+ to explore)

Poems about trees evoke the majesty of nature, celebrating their graceful branches and swaying leaves, symbolizing resilience and growth.

They paint pictures of tranquil forests, reminding us of life’s cycles and interconnectedness with the earth, inspiring awe and introspection.

These poems paint beautiful pictures of tranquil woods, inviting readers to lose themselves in a green sanctuary and find rejuvenation amidst the chaos of modern life.

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

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"> 99/100

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

Kilmer’s ‘Trees’ marvels at nature’s beauty, declaring trees as divine art surpassing human creation, in simple yet profound couplets.

This stunning poem is commonly considered to be one of, if not the, best poem ever written about trees. Within a few lines, Kipling describes the undeniable beauty of trees and how, no matter how hard he (or anyone) worked, they could never write a poem as "lovely as a tree." The poem inspires readers to admire the natural world and take note of everything it has to offer.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

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Nationality: American

Theme: Nature

Topics:

Trees

Loss, Old Age, Weather

"> 98/100

Tree At My Window

by Robert Frost

‘Tree At My Window’ by Robert Frost celebrates the speaker’s love for nature. He focuses in on one specific tree outside his window that’s meant a lot to him.

Frost's sometimes-overlooked poem 'Tree At My Window' is a heart-felt depiction of the place that a single tree can hold in someone's heart. The speaker cares deeply for this specific tree because of the long-lasting role its hard in his life. No matter what, the tree has always been there. The speaker also knows that even if the future is filled with unhappiness the tree will still be there.

Tree at my window, window tree,

My sash is lowered when night comes on;

But let there never be curtain drawn

Between you and me.

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"> 97/100

Loveliest of Trees

by A. E. Housman

‘Loveliest of Trees’ by A. E. Housman is a joyful nature poem in which the speaker describes how powerful the image of cherry blossom trees is in his life. He takes a great deal of pleasure from looking at them.

This lovely piece that is one of Housman's better-known poems describes a cherry tree that comes into bloom every year. The cherry tree reminds the speaker that his time on earth is short. The tree symbolizes the importance of making the most of one's time.

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough,

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide.

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Nationality: English

Theme: Relationships

Topics:

Trees

Marriage, Sky

"> 94/100

An Apple Gathering

by Christina Rossetti

‘An Apple Gathering’ is a first-person account of a woman who had a relationship before marriage and suffered the societal consquences.

Rossetti's 'An Apple Gathering' is a deeply meaningful poem that uses trees as its primary image. The central character picks the apples off her metaphorical tree, changing her life forever. Readers must interpret Rossetti's use of symbolism in this poem and how the tree and its apples relate to purity and perceptions of a woman's role in society in the 19th century.

I plucked pink blossoms from mine apple-tree

And wore them all that evening in my hair:

Then in due season when I went to see

I found no apples there.

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"> 93/100

The Way Through the Woods

by Rudyard Kipling

‘The Way Through the Woods’ by Rudyard Kipling describes the changes that have come over one particular forest since a road was closed.

This two-stanza poem by Rudyard Kipling is a fantastic tree poem. The poet focuses on a specific plot of land and how time has changed it. Trees overgrown exponentially in the area and covered up what used to be a road. Nature reclaimed this plot of land.

They shut the road through the woods

Seventy years ago.

Weather and rain have undone it again,

And now you would never know

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Trees

"> 92/100

Aspens

by Edward Thomas

In ‘Aspens’ Thomas focuses on the theme of grief and what role poetry has to play in the preservation of memory.

Edward Thomas' 'Aspens' is one of the best-known tree poems of all time. It speaks about nature, grief, and memory. The speaker describes the sound that aspen trees make as they talk amongst themselves, debating life's great choices.

All day and night, save winter, every weather,

Above the inn, the smithy, and the shop,

The aspens at the cross-roads talk together

Of rain, until their last leaves fall from the top.

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"> 89/100

The Almond Trees

by Derek Walcott

‘The Almond Trees’ By Derek Walcott is a confessional poem about identity, history, and cultural identity.

'The Almond Trees' lives up to its name, having the almond tree be a large part of the story. The tree is not only described multiple times throughout the poem, but it mentions the tree's important part of the story as an observer and fellow survivor. In addition, the tree is shown as a constant throughout history, watching as a culture is abused and grieving with compassion.

There's nothing here

this early;

cold sand

cold churning ocean, the Atlantic,

no visible history,

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"> 89/100

Winter Trees

by William Carlos Williams

‘Winter Trees’ by Williams equates trees shedding leaves to humans changing clothes, weaving a tapestry of natural surrealism.

'Winter Trees' by William Carlos Williams uses personification to speak on deciduous "sleeping" trees. The poet uses a few lines to describe the scene as a whole, employing his characteristic to-the-point style. He ends the poem by personifying the trees and referring to them as "wise trees" that "stand sleeping in the cold."

Thus having prepared their buds

against a sure winter

the wise trees

stand sleeping in the cold.

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Nationality: English

Themes: Beauty, Nature

Topics:

Trees

Evening, Friendship

Form: Free Verse

"> 88/100

This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

‘This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison’ evolves from confinement to a celebration of nature and imagination’s liberating power.

Coleridge's classic tree poem 'This Lime-tree Bower my Prison' is a powerful poem about isolation, friendship, nature, and immobility. It was written after Coleridge suffered an injury and was forced to remain immobile underneath a lime tree while his friends were free to explore the countryside.

Well, they are gone, and here must I remain,

This lime-tree bower my prison! I have lost

Beauties and feelings, such as would have been

Most sweet to my remembrance even when age

#10

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"> 85/100

A Poison Tree

by William Blake

‘A Poison Tree’ presents the consequences of harboring anger, which becomes a poisonous tree wreaking devastation.

Blake employs the tree as a central metaphor, flipping the usual meaning of trees from symbols of life to symbols of death. The poem uses botanical imagery by describing how a tree grows through watering, sunlight, and eventually producing fruit. However, the tree represents the speaker’s emotions, turning inner feelings into something visible. This extended metaphor links the growth of the tree to the buildup of emotion, ending with the deadly act of eating the fruit it produces.

I was angry with my friend;

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe:

I told it not, my wrath did grow.

#11

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Away, Melancholy

by Stevie Smith

‘Away, Melancholy’ by Stevie Smith encourages finding joy in nature and human kindness, urging readers to let go of sorrow.

The poem references trees as a symbol of nature's enduring vitality and beauty. By describing them as "green," the poet contrasts their life-affirming presence with human melancholy. The trees, along with other natural elements, serve as a reminder of the constancy and resilience of the natural world, encouraging the reader to find solace and inspiration in their simplicity.

Are not the trees green,

The earth as green?

Does not the wind blow,

Fire leap and the rivers flow?

#12

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"> 80/100

Plant a Tree

by Lucy Larcom

‘Plant a Tree’ by Lucy Larcom is a nature and religion-themed poem that speaks about the benefits of planting trees.

The poem places trees at its heart, emphasizing their vital role not just in the ecosystem but as symbols of growth, peace, and continuity. It details the various ways trees benefit both the environment and people, serving as protectors, providers, and companions. This central focus on trees highlights their importance as a connection between the present and future generations.

He who plants a tree

Plants a hope.

Rootlets up through fibres blindly grope;

Leaves unfold into horizons free.

#13

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"> 78/100

Birches

by Robert Frost

‘Birches’ is one of the most famous, admired, and thoughtful Robert Frost poems. The poem profoundly describes something simple, an ordinary incident, in elevated terms.

The birch trees are the centerpiece of this poem. The speaker watches them bending and imagines a boy swinging on them, turning them into symbols of childhood play and strength. The trees carry the weight of the poem’s message about resilience, growth, and the need for balance. They connect the speaker’s memories to the natural world, showing how simple things in nature can bring comfort and understanding in life.

When I see birches bend to left and right

Across the lines of straighter darker trees,

I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.

But swinging doesn’t bend them down to stay

#14

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A Murmur in the Trees— to note

by Emily Dickinson

‘A Murmur in the Trees— to note’ by Emily Dickinson is a poem about nature’s magic. It includes mysterious images of fairy men, glowing lights in the woods, and the murmuring of trees.

The titular trees are shown to both harbor magical creatures and possess a kind of magic themselves which is demonstrated by their apparent ability to speak. Dickinson was likely inspired by the sight and sounds of the wind moving through the trees, imposing her imagination on to these natural scenes. The poem is one of the loveliest depictions of trees in any poem.

A Murmur in the Trees – to note –

Not loud enough – for Wind –

A Star – not far enough to seek –

Nor near enough – to find –

#15

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The Trees

by Philip Larkin

‘The Trees’ views nature as both proof and a reminder that death and renewal are an inextricable part of life.

A main topic and symbol of the poem, Larkin's trees are characterized in a variety of ways. At first, they appear almost human as they're similarly subject to death and evoke from us a sense of quiet grief. Yet they also represent an ideal that the speaker finds themselves called to aspire toward: the hope of renewal and rebirth; to be able to live without the past troubles or death hampering one's spirit.

The trees are coming into leaf

Like something almost being said;

The recent buds relax and spread,

Their greenness is a kind of grief.

FAQs

Poems about trees have always been popular because they evoke a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and majesty of nature. Trees symbolize resilience and growth, as they stand tall and strong, even in the face of adversity. They represent the cycle of life, as they shed their leaves in the fall, only to grow new ones in the spring.

Additionally, trees provide a sense of connection to our natural surroundings. They offer shade on a hot summer's day, provide a home for countless birds and animals, and even act as a natural air purifier, filtering out pollutants. Their presence in a poem can create a sense of tranquility and peace, reminding us of the importance of preserving our natural environment.

Poems about trees usually focus on capturing the beauty and significance of these majestic creatures. They aim to evoke a sense of admiration for their graceful branches and swaying leaves. These poems often celebrate the resilience and growth that trees symbolize in nature.

In poems, trees often carry symbolic meanings that go beyond their physical presence. They can represent resilience and strength, as they weather storms and continue to grow. Trees are also associated with growth and renewal, symbolizing the cycles of life. Additionally, trees are sometimes used as metaphors for human experiences, such as branching out or finding stability.

Poems about trees aim to evoke a range of emotions in the reader. They often inspire a sense of awe and wonder at the grandeur of nature. Additionally, these poems can evoke feelings of tranquility and peace, as trees are often associated with natural landscapes.

These poems make use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and personification to enhance the theme of the beauty and tranquility of trees and woods. The poets carefully select words and phrases that evoke a sense of serenity and awe. They use metaphors to compare trees to wise beings, and personification to give them human-like qualities. By utilizing these poetic devices, the poems create a strong emotional impact and bring the natural world to life in the minds of readers.

These poems connect with the theme of rejuvenation by highlighting the restorative power of nature. They suggest that by immersing oneself in the beauty of the woods and trees, one can find a sense of renewal and healing. The poems emphasize the importance of taking a break from the chaos of modern life and reconnecting with the natural world as a means of rejuvenation. Through their descriptions of tranquil woods, the poems invite readers to slow down, breathe in the fresh air, and find a moment of serenity and rejuvenation.

Overall, these poems about trees on the mentioned page offer a captivating exploration of nature's beauty, inviting readers to escape the chaos of modern life and find solace in the tranquil woods. Through descriptive language and imagery, they evoke a sense of awe and appreciation for the rejuvenating power of nature.

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