The TREES
: BY Adrienne Rich
Stanza 1-
The poet says that the trees are moving out of the confines of the houses, into the open
forest. This is unrealistic as trees are immoveable and hence, we realize that the poem
has a symbolic meaning. We interpret that trees refer to females who have healed
themselves and are ready to move out of their homes, into the forests to fulfill their
primary purpose of filling the world with mankind. Further she adds that the forest has
been empty for the past many days and so, no birds can be seen as they do not have any
trees to sit on, on insects can be seen as they do not have any shelter and the Sunlight
cannot form any shadows. The forest of humanity has remained empty for many days but
will soon be full and bright.
Stanza2
The poet explains the struggle done by the plants to reach the forest. She says that the
roots worked for the whole night to separate themselves from the veranda floor. The
leaves tried hard to reach the window of glass so that they could go outside. Even the
small stems of the trees put much of their effort in order to set themselves free. The big
branches were also trying a lot to go out from the roof of the room. We can say that
women are desperate for a change and their effort is compared to that made by a patient
who has been released from the hospital and he tries to move out in a hurry although he
is confused. Maybe because they are half conscious and are under the influence of some
medication, they are unsteady but in a hurry to leave the clinic.
Stanza 3 & 4
The poet says as she sits on her veranda writing long letter, she doesn’t write about the
departure of the tree but is only observing their activities. The night appears to be very
clear and the smell of leaves and lichens is like a voice which is yelling and expressing a
desire for freedom from the confines of the house.
Her head is full of the slow sounds made by the trees which are desperate to move out.
These sounds will not be heard the next day. The poet asks the reader to listen carefully
as a change is about to take place. She hears the glass window breaking and the trees
stumble out into the night. The wind is blowing outside. It meets the trees. The moon is
like a mirror and it appears to have been broken into pieces as the shadow of the oak tree
divides the moon into many fragments.
