
The poem describes a serene and idyllic scene of a picnic under the branches of cherry trees. The speaker reflects on the beauty of nature and the passing of time, noting how the seasons change and the flowers bloom only briefly. The poem conveys a sense of melancholy and nostalgia for the fleeting nature of life and beauty.
By John Gould Fletcher · First published 1923 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Imagism · 63 words
The boat drifts to rest Under the outward spraying branches.
There is faint sound of quavering strings, The reedy murmurs of a flute, The soft sigh of the wind through silken garments;
All these are mingled With the breeze that drifts away, Filled with thin petals of cherry blossom, Like tinkling laughter dancing away in sunlight.
A Picnic under the Cherry Trees is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Gould Fletcher, dated 1923 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
Poetry · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Romanticism · Literary Fiction · Southern Gothic · Regionalism · American Literature · 20th Century · Modernism · Realism