Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

TREE DESIGN, by ARNA BONTEMPS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Tree Design" by Arna Bontemps is a reflective and introspective poem that delves into the symbolic and personal significance of a tree, transcending its physical presence to explore deeper emotional and existential themes. Through a series of contrasting images and a journey from the external to the internal, Bontemps crafts a narrative that positions the tree as a symbol of both loss and enduring presence within the self.

The poem begins by challenging the reader's perception of a tree as merely a part of the landscape ("a shadow / Blurred against the sky") or a passive element in nature ("More than ink spilled on the fringe / Of white clouds floating by"). These initial images suggest a conventional, perhaps superficial, understanding of a tree, emphasizing its aesthetic or background role in the natural world.

However, Bontemps quickly moves beyond these external attributes to imbue the tree with greater depth and significance. The tree is not just "an April design," a reference to its beauty and vitality in spring, nor is it merely "a blighted winter bough," which could symbolize decay or the absence of life. This transition from the vibrancy of spring to the barrenness of winter encapsulates the cyclical nature of existence, highlighting the tree's capacity to embody both life and its cessation.

The poem then takes a poignant turn inward with the lines "A tree is something in me, / Very still and lonely now." This introspection reveals the tree as a metaphor for the internal landscape of the speaker, suggesting a deep and personal connection that goes beyond the physical or seasonal attributes of the tree. The tree becomes a symbol of the speaker's own emotional state—still and lonely, suggesting a sense of isolation or a profound inner quietude that has emerged from experience or loss.

"Tree Design" thus transforms the tree from a simple natural object into a complex symbol of human emotion and existential reflection. The tree's enduring presence, through the changes of seasons and the cycles of growth and decay, mirrors the human experience of change, loss, and the search for meaning. The final image of the tree as "something in me" underscores the poem's exploration of the interconnectedness between the human spirit and the natural world, revealing how external landscapes can reflect and shape our internal ones.

In its concise form, "Tree Design" captures the essence of poetic reflection, offering a meditation on the ways in which the natural world intersects with personal identity and emotional landscapes. Bontemps's skillful use of imagery and contrast, coupled with the poem's shift from the external to the internal, invites readers to consider their own connections to the natural world and the deeper meanings that such connections might hold

POEM TEXT:

A tree is more than a shadow

Blurred against the sky,

More than ink spilled on the fringe

Of white clouds floating by.

A tree is more than an April design

Or a blighted winter bough

Where love and music used to be.

A tree is something in me,

Very still and lonely now.