Advice to Maple-Trees
The work presents a contemplative exploration of the relationship between nature and aspiration, particularly through the metaphor of maple trees. The speaker addresses the trees directly, personifying them as slender and unkempt beings yearning for freedom and transcendence. They are depicted as gazing at the moon, symbolizing unattainable dreams and desires, while remaining rooted to the earth, which represents their limitations and struggles. The imagery evokes a sense of longing, as the trees express a desire for wings to escape their earthly confines. However, the speaker emphasizes that such wings would not liberate them from their inherent connection to the ground. This duality highlights the tension between aspiration and reality, suggesting that the pursuit of freedom may ultimately lead to a form of existential stagnation. As the poem progresses, the trees' cries for wings resonate with the speaker's own feelings of confinement and yearning. The crescent moon serves as a distant symbol of hope and possibility, yet it remains out of reach, reinforcing the theme of unattainable desires. The work ultimately reflects on the nature of existence, the inevitability of death, and the bittersweet acceptance of one's limitations. The tone is both melancholic and reflective, inviting readers to consider their own aspirations in the context of their earthly realities. The imagery and language create a vivid landscape that captures the essence of longing, while also acknowledging the beauty and pain of being rooted in one's circumstances. The piece concludes with a poignant recognition that the pursuit of dreams, while noble, may lead to an equal death, suggesting that the journey itself is fraught with complexity and contradiction.
By Maxwell Bodenheim · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Philosophical · 161 words
First lines
O little maple-trees, Slender and unkempt, looking with shaggy askance Upon the moon-spiked solitude; O little maple-trees, Growing a little toward the sky That touches you to all eyes save your own, You rattle insistently for wings, But wings could never tear The stain of earth from your feet: The earth that gnaws at you until Your wing-cries strike the autumn night. You see, with me, this crescent moon Juggled on the tawny fingertip Of a running cloud. The touch of your desire, or its fall, Would but be symbols of an equal death.
What this Textopian page supports
Advice to Maple-Trees is listed on Textopian as a poem by Maxwell Bodenheim, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Maxwell Bodenheim
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Philosophical, Symbolism, Lyrical
- Length: 161 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Similar titles
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- The Rising Of The Moon by Madison Cawein
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- The Naiad by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing imagery and metaphor typical of poetic expression.
- Nature — The poem focuses on trees and natural elements, exploring themes of growth and existence in relation to nature.
- Philosophical — The themes reflect on existence, desire, and the human condition, prompting deeper contemplation.
- Symbolism — The use of symbols, such as the maple trees and the moon, conveys complex ideas and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Trees · Advice · Philosophy · Literary · Symbolism · Metaphor · Imagery · Language · Style · Tone