Analysis of Go Plant a Tree

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



God, what a joy it is to plant a tree,
And from the sallow earth to watch it rise,
Lifting its emerald branches to the skies
In silent adoration; and to see
Its strength and glory waxing with each spring.
Yes, 'tis a goodly, and a gladsome thing
To plant a tree.

Nature has many marvels; but a tree
Seems more than marvellous. It is divine.
So generous, so tender, so benign.
Not garrulous like the rivers; and yet free
In pleasant converse with the winds and birds;
Oh! privilege beyond explaining words,
To plant a tree.

Rocks are majestic; but, unlike a tree,
They stand aloof, and silent. In the roar
Of ocean billows breaking on the shore
There sounds the voice of turmoil. But a tree
Speaks ever of companionship and rest.
Yea, of all righteous acts, this, this is best,
To plant a tree.

There is an oak (oh! how I love that tree)
Which has been thriving for a hundred years;
Each day I send my blessing through the spheres
To one who gave this triple boon to me,
Of growing beauty, singing birds, and shade.
Wouldst thou win laurels that shall never fade?


Scheme abbaccA addaeeA affaggA ahhaii
Poetic Form
Metre 1101111101 010111111 1011010101 010010011 1101010111 110100011 1101 1011010101 11111101 1100110101 11001010011 0101010101 110010101 1101 1101010101 1101010001 1101010101 110111101 110101001 1111011111 1101 1111111111 1111010101 1111110101 1111110111 1101010101 1111011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,070
Words 200
Sentences 15
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 7, 7, 7, 6
Lines Amount 27
Letters per line (avg) 31
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 206
Words per stanza (avg) 50
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:00 min read
142

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. more…

All Ella Wheeler Wilcox poems | Ella Wheeler Wilcox Books

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