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.
Trees and Other Poems (1913) | Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918)
- Read this one aloud with younger children.
- Memorize the poem. You can read how we suggest approaching this on our copying page.
- Choose one stanza to copy and illustrate.
- The tree is personified in the poem. Select two places that show personification.
- Choose a tree to study through all four seasons.
Poetry Dictionary for Kids
Terms, literary devices, and more.
First Book of Trees
Public domain title.
The Science of Drawing Trees
Another public domain title that will help with tracking a tree through the seasons.
Units & Lesson Plans
Free Nature Studies: Our Wonderful World
These are the tree sections from our free nature study with resources and more for studying trees: