About the Author
Adrienne Rich was an American poet and thinker. She was born on May 16, 1929, in a city called Baltimore in the USA. Her father was a doctor, and she loved reading books from a young age. Rich wrote many poems about everyday life, love, and problems faced by women and poor people. She believed in fairness for everyone and spoke up for women's rights. Her poems are simple but deep, like talking to a friend. She won big prizes for her work, like the National Book Award. Rich passed away on March 27, 2012, but her words still help people think about freedom and kindness. This poem "The Trees" is one of her famous ones.
What’s the Poem About?
This is a short poem that feels like a quiet story about trees that want to be free. It uses simple words to show how nature fights to break out of tight spaces. Let me tell it step by step in easy words, like sharing a bedtime tale, so you can see the pictures in your mind.
The poem starts inside a dark room at night. The trees are stuck there, like plants in pots on a windowsill. Their leaves are curled up tight, like fingers closed in a fist because they have no space to stretch. Their branches are bent and small, pressed against the walls and roof, like kids squeezed in a small bus. They feel sad and trapped, with no room to grow big and strong.
But then, something changes. The trees hear the call of the wild forest outside. They see the moon shining through the glass, and small birds chirping softly. These birds have no home inside – they fly free in the sky. The trees feel jealous and brave. They decide, "No more waiting! We must go out."
At night, when the house is sleeping and no one is watching, the trees start to move. They push hard against the doors and windows. The glass breaks with a soft sound, like cracking an egg. The big doors open wide with a creak. The trees take long, slow steps on their twisty roots, like old people walking carefully. They hurry out, one by one, into the fresh air. Their leaves shake with joy, making a whispering sound like rain on leaves. They run to join the tall trees in the forest, where they can stand straight and breathe easy.
In the morning, when people wake up, they see empty pots and broken glass. But outside, the forest looks fuller and greener. The trees are home now, waving in the wind. The poem ends with a happy note: the birds have a place to build nests again, and the moon can shine on real trees, not just ones behind bars.
It's a poem that makes you feel the push for freedom, like when you want to run out and play after being stuck inside all day.
Who’s Who in the Poem
This poem has no people with names – it's all about nature talking like friends. Here are the main parts, told simply:
- The Trees: The heroes of the poem. They are like family members who feel closed in and decide to escape. They have curled leaves, cramped branches, and strong roots that help them walk out.
- The Poet's Voice: The one telling the story, like a wise aunt whispering secrets. She watches the trees and cheers for them quietly.
- The Birds: Small, free friends outside the house. They sing and fly, showing the trees what real life is like. No cage for them!
- The Moon: A soft light in the sky that peeks in and helps the trees see their way out. It's like a gentle guide at night.
No big crowd – just these nature friends making a quiet adventure.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Main Ideas)
The poem shares a few easy-to-see ideas, like drawings on a wall:
- Wanting Freedom: Trees hate being kept inside, just like birds need sky or kids need playgrounds. It's about breaking out of small spaces to grow.
- Power of Nature: Even soft things like leaves and roots can push doors and run to the wild. Nature is strong and doesn't stay quiet.
- Care for Others: When trees leave, birds get homes and the forest gets fuller. Freedom helps everyone.
Moral (The Lesson)
The big lesson is: Give space to grow, or things will find their own way out. Like plants or people, everyone needs room to stretch and be happy. Be kind to nature and those around you – don't trap them in small pots. It teaches us to let go sometimes, so birds can sing and trees can touch the sky.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
I chose easy words and lines from the poem. Each has a plain meaning and a sample sentence. Say them out loud to remember – they are like new toys for your word box!
- Curled: Bent or rolled up tight, like a cat sleeping with paws under its body. Example: The paper curled in the hot sun.
- Cramped: Squeezed in a tight spot, like too many friends in one auto-rickshaw. Example: My legs felt cramped after sitting for hours.
- Long-cramped branches: Arms of the tree that stayed bent for a long time in a small space. Example: The long-cramped branches finally stretched in the open field.
- Creaking: A slow, scratchy sound, like an old door opening. Example: The wooden floor made a creaking noise when grandma walked.
- Twigs: Small, thin sticks on a branch, like baby fingers. Example: The bird picked twigs to build its nest.
- Inchworm: A tiny worm that moves by bending like a measure tape. Example: The inchworm crawled slowly up the leaf.
- Noises: Sounds, big or small, like whispers or bangs. Example: The rain made soft noises on the roof.
- Forest: A big group of trees and plants in the wild, like a green party. Example: We went for a walk in the forest and saw deer.
- Phrase: "They are moving out": Leaving a place to go somewhere better, like shifting to a new house. Example: The birds are moving out to the hills for winter.
- Phrase: "The moon did not stir": The moon stayed still and quiet, not moving at all. Example: The stars twinkled, but the moon did not stir.
- Phrase: "Take away the house": Remove the walls or cage that holds things back. Example: Take away the house, and let the plants grow free.
Read the poem again and spot these words. They will make your English talks fun and clear, like chatting with a neighbor!