🌳 Class 9 English (Beehive) — Poem: Trees by Joyce Kilmer
Stanza-wise Original
Explanation + Hindi Meaning
Hard Words
Poetic Devices & Rhyme Scheme
Quick Q&A
Stanza 1 (Lines 1–2)
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
Explanation: The poet humbly admits that no poem can be as beautiful as a tree. Nature’s creation surpasses human-made art.
हिंदी अर्थ: कवि मानता है कि कोई कविता भी उतनी सुंदर नहीं हो सकती जितना सुंदर एक पेड़ होता है। प्रकृति की रचना मनुष्य की रचना से श्रेष्ठ है।
Stanza 2 (Lines 3–4)
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
Explanation: The tree’s “hungry mouth” (roots) presses against the earth’s nourishing “breast” (soil), from which it constantly draws life.
हिंदी अर्थ: पेड़ का “भूखा मुख” (जड़ें) धरती के “दूधिया वक्ष” (पोषक मिट्टी) से सटा रहता है और वहीं से जीवनरस पाता है।
Stanza 3 (Lines 5–6)
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
Explanation: Personified as a devotee, the tree “looks at God” and raises its leafy branches like arms in prayer, showing reverence to the divine.
हिंदी अर्थ: पेड़ को भक्त की तरह दिखाया गया है जो पूरे दिन ईश्वर को निहारता है और पत्तों से भरी शाखाएँ प्रार्थना में उठी हुई भुजाओं जैसी लगती हैं।
Stanza 4 (Lines 7–8)
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Explanation: In summer, the tree “wears” nests of robins like ornaments in its “hair” (foliage). It provides shelter and becomes part of birds’ lives.
हिंदी अर्थ: गर्मियों में पेड़ अपनी “लटों” (पत्तियों) में रॉबिन पक्षियों के घोंसले “धारण” करता है—यह दर्शाता है कि पेड़ आश्रय देता है।
Stanza 5 (Lines 9–10)
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Explanation: Snow rests upon the tree’s bosom, and it “intimately lives with rain.” Trees endure seasons closely; they are in constant fellowship with nature.
हिंदी अर्थ: बर्फ़ पेड़ की छाती पर टिकती है और पेड़ बारिश के साथ घनिष्ठता से जीता है—यानि ऋतुओं से उसका गहरा रिश्ता है।
Stanza 6 (Lines 11–12)
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Explanation: The poet humbles himself, saying poems are made by “fools” like him, but only God can create a tree—emphasising divine supremacy over human art.
हिंदी अर्थ: कवि स्वयं को विनम्र बताते हुए कहता है कि कविताएँ तो मेरे जैसे “मूर्ख” बना लेते हैं, पर पेड़ तो केवल ईश्वर बना सकता है—ईश्वरीय सृष्टि सर्वोपरि है।
Hard Words (with meanings)
| Word / Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning (English) | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|---|
| prest (pressed) | प्रेस्ट | pressed firmly | जोर से सटा/दबा हुआ |
| earth’s breast | अर्थ्स ब्रेस्ट | earth seen as a nurturing mother | धरती का पोषणकारी वक्ष |
| leafy arms | लीफ़ी आर्म्स | branches full of leaves | पत्तों से भरी शाखाएँ |
| robins | रॉबिन्स | a kind of songbird | एक प्रकार का गायक पक्षी |
| bosom | बज़म | chest; figuratively, embrace | छाती; आलिंगन (रूपक) |
| intimately | इंटिमिटली | closely, deeply | घनिष्ठ रूप से |
Note: ‘prest’ is an old/poetic form of “pressed”.
Poetic Devices + Themes
Personification Tree “looks at God”, “lifts her leafy arms”, “wears a nest”.
Metaphor “earth’s sweet flowing breast” (Earth as mother feeding the tree).
Imagery hungry mouth (roots), leafy arms, nest in hair, snow on bosom, rain intimacy.
Alliteration lovely… tree (l sound), sweet… flowing… breast (soft consonants).
Rhyme Scheme A A • B B • C C • D D • E E • A A (see/tree, prest/breast, day/pray, wear/hair, lain/rain, me/tree).
Themes Reverence for Nature, Divine Creation over human art, Humility of the poet.
Quick Q&A (Exam-ready)
Q1. Why does the poet call himself a “fool”?
Ans: To show humility—human art is limited; only God can create a living tree.
Ans: To show humility—human art is limited; only God can create a living tree.
Q2. How is the tree personified in the poem?
Ans: It “looks at God”, “lifts leafy arms to pray”, “wears a nest”, “lives with rain”.
Ans: It “looks at God”, “lifts leafy arms to pray”, “wears a nest”, “lives with rain”.
Q3. Explain the metaphor “earth’s sweet flowing breast”.
Ans: Earth is seen as a mother feeding the tree (roots) with nourishing sap/soil.
Ans: Earth is seen as a mother feeding the tree (roots) with nourishing sap/soil.
Closing Thought
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree. — Joyce Kilmer
“When eating fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.” — Voltaire