The poem "That the Woods Have Trees" by Edmond Jabes reflects on the natural beauty of trees and leaves, and the surprising idea that leaves could have wings. The poem encourages the trees to fly high and explore the open sky, but also warns about the dangers of autumn when the leaves, once turned into wings, will inevitably fall.
The flying Trees - Poem by Edmond Jabès.
The second stanza encourages the trees to fly, using the imperative "fly, fly" and referring to them as "beautiful green trees". This imagery of trees with wings evokes a sense of freedom and possibility.
However, the poem ends on a cautionary note, warning the trees to beware of autumn, a "fatal season" when the wings of leaves will fall and they will return to being just leaves. This ending emphasizes the cyclical nature of nature and the inevitability of change.
Overall, the poem is a contemplation on the relationship between nature and change, and the wonder and beauty that can be found in unexpected places.
Value Added.
Linguistically, this poem by Edmond Jabes is notable for its use of simple, straightforward language to convey complex ideas. The poem's structure is simple and concise, with short, declarative sentences that create a sense of clarity and directness.
At the same time, the poem also incorporates a number of poetic devices that add depth and nuance to its meaning. For example, the repetition of "What could be more..." in the first two lines of the poem emphasizes the naturalness and obviousness of trees and leaves, while the sudden shift to the unexpected image of leaves with wings in the third line creates a sense of surprise and wonder.The use of personification in the poem, with the trees being addressed directly as "beautiful green trees", adds a sense of intimacy and emotional resonance to the text. Additionally, the use of the imperative "Fly, fly" creates a sense of urgency and excitement that engages the reader and draws them into the poem's imagery.
Methodically, the poem employs a simple and effective structure to convey its message. The first stanza sets up the idea of trees and leaves as natural and expected, while the second stanza explores the concept of leaves with wings and the freedom and possibility this idea represents. The final stanza then returns to the theme of change, warning of the inevitable falling of leaves and the return to the natural order of things.
In conclusion, as readers, we can learn from this poem about the power of simple, direct language and the use of poetic devices to add depth and nuance to a text. We can also appreciate the effective use of structure to convey a message and the way that the poem engages the reader both intellectually and emotionally.