About the Author
Harry Behn was an American writer born in 1898 and lived until 1973. He loved writing stories and poems for children. He also wrote books, plays for radio, and even helped make movies. His works are full of fun and simple words that make kids smile. "Trees" is one of his sweet poems that shows his love for nature.
What’s the Story About?
This is a beautiful poem, not a story with people running around, but it feels like a gentle tale about trees and how wonderful they are. The poet talks to us like a friend, sharing why trees are the best friends of all living things. Let me explain it in easy steps, like telling a bedtime story, so you can picture it all.
The poem starts by saying trees are the kindest things the poet knows. They never hurt anyone – they just grow quietly and tall. Imagine a big tree in your backyard. It spreads its wide branches like open arms, giving cool shade to tired cows who want to nap under it. At the same time, birds come flying in and make cozy homes (called nests) in those branches, safe from rain and wind.
Next, the poem tells us more gifts from trees. In summer, they give us yummy fruits hanging from their leaves, like mangoes or apples you can pick and eat. When we need houses, trees give their strong wood to build walls and roofs. In the fun festival of Halloween (or Diwali lights), we use their dried leaves to make crackling fires. And every spring, like magic, new green buds pop out on the branches, making the world look fresh and alive.
Then, the poet paints a picture of a whole day with trees. In the morning, when the sun rises, trees are the first to feel its warm rays – they stretch up like they're saying "good morning" to the light. At night, when the sun sets and stars come out, trees hold on to the last bit of daylight, like they're waving goodbye slowly.
Finally, on quiet nights with a full moon shining, trees seem to sing a soft, sleepy song – a lullaby – that makes you think of happy children from long ago, playing and dreaming under them. The poet ends by repeating that trees are truly the kindest things, always giving without taking.
In short, the poem is like a hug from nature. It makes you stop and look at the trees around your school or home, and feel thankful for their quiet help every day.
Who’s Who in the Story
Since this is a poem about nature, there are no main characters like in a fairy tale. But here are the key "friends" the poet mentions:
- The Poet (Narrator): This is like the storyteller – Harry Behn himself – who loves trees and shares his feelings with us.
- Trees: The stars of the poem! They are kind giants that grow, give shade, fruit, wood, and homes.
- Birds: Happy flyers who build nests in the tree branches and chirp songs.
- Cows: Sleepy animals who rest in the cool shade under the trees.
- Children (from long ago): Not seen, but remembered in the lullaby part – kids who played and slept near trees, showing how trees comfort everyone.
These "who's who" make the poem feel alive, like a big family living together in the garden of life.
Themes and Moral
Themes (big ideas in the poem)
- Kindness of Nature: Trees show us how to be good without trying hard – they just grow and help everyone around them.
- Gifts from Trees: The poem lists all the ways trees give us shade, food, homes, and beauty, like a thank-you note to the earth.
- Daily Rhythm with Nature: Trees welcome the sun in the morning and say goodnight at dusk, reminding us life goes in a peaceful cycle.
Moral (the lesson we learn)
Trees teach us to be kind and giving, just like them. They don't ask for anything but share everything – shade on hot days, fruits for hungry tummies, and songs under the moon. So, we should love and protect trees by planting more and not cutting them carelessly. If we do, our world will stay happy and green for all animals, birds, and kids like you!
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some special words and short groups of words from the poem. I picked easy ones that might be new, and explained them with simple meanings and examples, like chatting with a friend.
- Kindest (from "kindest things"): Means the most gentle and helpful. Example: Your best friend who shares toys without asking is the kindest in class.
- Boughs (from "among their boughs"): Another word for big branches of a tree. Example: Birds sit on the boughs like kids on a swing.
- Beams (from "beams of morning sun"): Bright lines or rays of light from the sun. Example: Sunlight beams through your window to wake you up.
- Lullaby (from "drowsy lullaby"): A soft song to make someone sleepy and calm. Example: Mom sings a lullaby to help baby brother fall asleep.
- Spread a shade (phrase): To make a cool, dark area under the tree to block hot sun. Example: On a picnic, we spread a shade with an umbrella, but trees do it naturally.
- Hold the light (phrase): To keep the sunlight or glow for a little longer. Example: At sunset, the sky holds the light in pretty orange colors before it gets dark.
- New buds of green (phrase): Tiny new leaves starting to grow in spring. Example: After rain, you see new buds of green on plants, like fresh baby leaves.
These words make the poem sound pretty, but now you know them like your own! Try using one in a sentence about a tree near your house.