Critical appreciation for the poem the heart of the tree in detail
Answers
The poem opens with the refrain which asks “What does he plant who plants a tree?” and that sets the tone for the entire poem. We instantly realize that the poet is going to explain the usefulness of planting a tree. However, the poet himself answers by stating that the man plants a friend of sun and sky by planting a tree.
A plant grows upwards and aims to reach the sun and the sky. So it is as if the sun and the sky get a new friend in a tree. Secondly, the tree needs sunlight and air to survive. And finally, the trees seem to absorb the heat and save the earth from the scorching sun, giving an implication that the sun becomes friendly in the presence of the trees.
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty towering high;
The speaker now adds that the man plants a flag that flies freely in the mild breeze. The poet here compares the leafy branches of the tree to a flag and the stem to the beautiful shaft (pole) of the flag that stands tall.
He plants a home to heaven anigh;
For song and mother-croon of bird
By planting a tree the man plants a home for the sweet singing birds high in the sky, near the heaven. So, he keeps the earth habitable for birds and helps in maintaining the eco-system.
In hushed and happy twilight heard—The treble of heaven’s harmony—
These things he plants who plants a tree.
In quiet and happy twilight we can hear those birds chirping which is harmonious to heaven’s own tunes.
In the entire first stanza of The Heart of the Tree, the poet accentuates the importance of trees in maintaining the holistic beauty of nature. Moreover, the use of words like ‘heaven anigh’, ‘heaven’s harmony’ and ‘towering high’ is aimed at giving an impression that the work of planting a tree is indeed a heavenly and glorious deed.
The finishing line of the stanza forms a logical whole with the opening line, one asking a question and the other completing the answer.
Second StanzaWhat does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants cool shade and tender rain,
So, the poet repeats the question to begin a new stanza and attempts to answer again in the subsequent lines. The tree he plants provides us with cool shade and helps in bringing rain.
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again;
A tree will produce seed and bud in future. Years will pass silently but the tree will remain there through its seeds producing new trees.
He plants the glory of the plain;
He plants the forest’s heritage;
Answer:
The Title “The Heart of the Tree” is apt and suggestive. It is the tree that remains in focus throughout the poem. The poet refers to the ‘heart’ of the tree – what kind of heart it possesses. It is kind generous and magnanimous. It does not show any discrimination. It blesses all those who take care of it or even who neglect it. Wherever a tree is planted it turns the place into heaven. That’s why the poet praises the one who plants a tree. 'The Heart of the Tree' is a meaningful poem with a message that the one who plants a tree not only contributes to the betterment of nature for all the other creatures but he also helps in nation's growth. The simple poem tells us about the beautiful connecting man can wave with nature if he plants a tree. The poet asks certain question the beginning of the poem and kind of answering them too in the following lines. Planting a tree is always a great work for the mankind. But, the poet has found out new ways to look at the plants and plantation. In his poem The Heart of the Tree he glorifies the act further, shows how a tree helps life on earth and says that it has a direct connection to a nation’s growth. All the three stanzas of the poem The Heart of the Tree starts with a refrain with the poet asking what the man actually plants who plants a tree. Then he chooses to reply it by himself and shows what a tree means to the humankind and to the nature, thus proving how great that man is. The poet has used alliteration - hushed and happy, heaven's harmony -; personification - a friend of sun and sky -; metaphor - the flag of breezes free, the shaft of beauty towering high. The poem discusses the usefulness of a tree elaborating on how a tree that is planted benefits not only the nature, a nation, but also contributes to the growth of humankind. One who plants a tree aspires for his nation’s growth. Trees stand straight and steady, giving an impression as if they are touching the sun and the sky. They sway with the breeze and beautify the surrounding. They are home to chirruping birds which sing sweetly and display heaven’s harmony on this earth. Furthermore, the person who plants trees also acts as a good citizen of his country because, by planting a tree, he brings joy and blessings to the neighbourhood. As a result of all he does, the land becomes fertile, and thus a boon to the humankind. The one who plants a tree has a noble thought of a common good that would be a boon for man in general and the nation in particular. He has a dream of the growth of all his land when he plants a tree. Indirectly the poet hints us that planting a tree is to humour nature and God above us who has blessed us with plentiful bounties.
Explanation: