Paraphrase frist stanza of a good timber
Answers
Stanza One
"The tree that never had to fight
"The tree that never had to fightFor sun and sky and air and light,
"The tree that never had to fightFor sun and sky and air and light,But stood out in the open plain
"The tree that never had to fightFor sun and sky and air and light,But stood out in the open plainAnd always got its share of rain,
"The tree that never had to fightFor sun and sky and air and light,But stood out in the open plainAnd always got its share of rain,Never became a forest king
"The tree that never had to fightFor sun and sky and air and light,But stood out in the open plainAnd always got its share of rain,Never became a forest kingBut lived and died a scrubby thing."
In this piece the speaker begins by describing one particular type of tree and the life it lived. It is clear from the first stanza that the tree is standing in for a human being. There is an extended metaphor that stretches the length of the poem through which Malloch uses trees to represent humans and they different lives they lead.
He speaks first on the “tree that never had to fight.” From just this line it is clear that he is looking down on this type of person. The “fight” already feels necessary. In the next lines he describes how the tree, or person, who lives an easy life does not worry about resources. They have all the food, water, air and light they need to survive. These needs don’t register for them. Additionally, due to their position, they “always” get enough rain.
The position of the tree speaks to the way that one’s lot in life is determined by their birth. One cannot choose the life they were born into. The tree did not have to fight for what it has. In the last two lines the speaker reveals the outcome of such a life. This kind of tree will never become a “forest king,” or one of the largest, strongest trees in the forest. It will live and die “a scrubby thing.” It may have a position, but that position did nothing to further its interior strength.