Who wrote: I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree?

[Smjacox]

Can anyone please tell me where this quote came from? Was it part of a poem, speech, or what? I want to use it somewhere, but want to attribute the proper credit where it is due.

[Practical Magic]

It was a poem by Joyce Kilmer, I believe. Interesting you should ask...I was just thinking about that poem yesterday.

[Smjacox]

Thanks! That is probably my all time favorite line ever, ( have a thing for trees!)

[Donner]

I moved this here because it's the more appropriate forum for posting questions.

Donner

[gordon k]

Trees
by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

-----------------------------------------

Hrhh....
the opening couplet is, as you can see, the Best Bit.

g k

[JohnBoddie]

Take heart!

By writing poetry such as this, the author's name is forever enshrined by having a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike named for her.

JB

[Howard Miller]

Him.

Howard

[Kemmer]

I always thought Joyce Kilmer was a guy with a weird first name.

(Always hated that poem, especially when we had to sing it in Jr. High. Maybe it was the "breast" word, maybe it was those leafy arms/nests of robins that somehow suggested armpit hair.)

Kemmer


[This message has been edited by Kemmer (edited 03-20-2001).]

[Bela]

More Kilmer:
http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poetry/Joyce_Kilmer/Joyce_Kilmer_contents.htm

Bela

[Innamorare]

You have to be kidding right?

It's that woman that sits in the red wood out in California someplace thats trying with all her might to keep them from cutting it down. SOme jerk with a chain saw already took a wack at it...haven't heard what happened after that, anyone know? Probably got permission from Bush to take it under when he was inaugurated, first signature.

[Patrice]

This is soooo strange. I was just thinking about that silly poem the other day. I knew it was written by Joyce Kilmer, and I also knew he was a man. (snicker, snicker). Percy Shelley may have had a sissy name, but at least he wrote good poetry. I read a detailed crit of that "tree" poem somewhere in a lit text. I wish I could find it.

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Patrice

An ace, pestering a jet

[Julie]

I think that I shall never see
Hot chocolate sauce on broccoli.

But if I do, I give my word,
I'll have two plates, but not a third.

(Some Mad Magazine genius poet.)

Julie

[Rachel Lindley]

I prefer this version:

<center>Threes
by John Atherton
(to be sung by Niels Bohr)</center>

<center><img src="http://www.jps.net/joehorn/threes.gif" width="334" height="622"></center>


Rachel

[Howard Miller]

"Computers"
Randall Garrett (I believe)

I think that I shall never see
A calculator made like me.

A me that likes martinis dry,
And on the rocks a little rye.

A me that taps its foot and grins
Whenever Dixieland begins.

A me that looks at girls and such,
But mostly girls, and very much.

Men make computers for a fee,
But only moms can make a me.