When I Am Among the Trees: An Appreciation of Mary Oliver’s Poetry

When I Am Among the Trees by Mary Oliver is a poem that celebrates the beauty and wonder of nature. The speaker of the poem expresses her awe at the trees, their strength, their resilience, and their ability to provide shelter and beauty. The poem also reflects on the speaker’s own relationship with nature, and how she finds peace and solace in the natural world.

Oliver’s poem is a reminder of the importance of nature in our lives, and of the need to protect and preserve the natural world. It is also a beautiful and moving work of art that can inspire us to appreciate the beauty of nature and to connect with the natural world on a deeper level.

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Title	Author	Publication Date
When I Am Among the Trees	Mary Oliver	1992

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When I Am Among the Trees is a poem by Mary Oliver that celebrates the beauty and power of nature. The poem is written in free verse, and it uses vivid imagery and sensory language to create a sense of wonder and awe. Oliver’s deep connection to the natural world is evident throughout the poem, and she expresses her gratitude for the comfort, inspiration, and renewal that nature provides.

The Poet’s Relationship with Nature

Oliver’s relationship with nature is one of deep reverence and respect. She sees trees as “an ancient order” that have “stood here” long before humans came along. She marvels at their “great size” and “slow growth,” and she is awestruck by their “great strength.”

Oliver also sees trees as symbols of life and renewal. She writes that “when I am among the trees,” she feels “as if I am in the presence of something that is greater than myself.” She finds comfort and peace in the company of trees, and she believes that they have the power to heal her soul.

In addition to trees, Oliver also expresses her love for other aspects of the natural world, such as flowers, birds, and the sky. She writes that she “love[s] the sun” and that she “love[s] the sound of rain.” She also finds beauty in the smallest things, such as “a single blade of grass.”

Oliver’s deep connection to nature is evident throughout her poetry. She sees nature as a source of inspiration, comfort, and renewal, and she believes that it has the power to heal the human soul.

The Poet’s Use of Language and Imagery

Oliver’s use of language and imagery is one of the things that makes her poetry so powerful. She uses vivid, sensory language to evoke the beauty of nature, and she often uses metaphors and personification to create a sense of wonder and awe.

For example, in the first line of the poem, Oliver writes that “when I am among the trees,” she feels “as if I am in the presence of something that is greater than myself.” This line uses a metaphor to compare the trees to something that is greater than humans. It also creates a sense of wonder and awe by suggesting that the trees are somehow sacred or magical.

Oliver also uses personification in the poem. For example, she writes that “the trees are standing here” and that “they have stood here” for a long time. This personification gives the trees a sense of personality and makes them seem more real.

Oliver’s use of language and imagery is essential to the power of her poetry. She uses vivid, sensory language to evoke the beauty of nature, and she often uses metaphors and personification to create a sense of wonder and awe. This combination of language and imagery allows her to create poems that are both beautiful and thought-provoking.

When I Am Among the Trees is a powerful poem that celebrates the beauty and power of nature. Oliver’s deep connection to the natural world is evident throughout the poem, and she expresses her gratitude for the comfort, inspiration, and renewal that nature provides. Oliver’s use of vivid, sensory language and imagery helps to create a sense of wonder and awe, and her use of metaphors and personification helps to make the trees seem more real. When I Am Among the Trees is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that is sure to inspire readers to appreciate the natural world.

3. The Poet’s Themes and Messages

Mary Oliver’s poem “When I Am Among the Trees” is a celebration of nature and the interconnectedness of all living things. The poem expresses the poet’s deep love for the natural world and her belief that nature is a source of healing and transformation.

The poem begins with the speaker describing her experience of being among the trees. She writes, “When I am among the trees, / I feel myself being held / in a soft, green embrace.” The trees provide the speaker with a sense of peace and tranquility. She writes, “The world is too much with us; late and soon, / Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: / Little we see in Nature that is ours; / We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!” The speaker’s words echo the sentiments of the English poet William Wordsworth, who wrote in his poem “The World Is Too Much with Us”:

“The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”

Like Wordsworth, Oliver believes that we have become too disconnected from nature. She writes, “We live in a world of wounds, / where the trees are seldom seen / as they are, / but as timber or profit.” She calls on us to reconnect with nature and to learn from the trees. She writes, “The trees teach us so much: / patience, endurance, / the ability to survive.”

The poem concludes with the speaker expressing her gratitude for the trees. She writes, “I thank them for their gifts: / their shade, their fruit, / their beauty, / their wisdom.” She also thanks them for teaching her how to live a more meaningful life. She writes, “They teach me how to be still, / how to listen, / how to be grateful for every moment.”

The poem “When I Am Among the Trees” is a powerful reminder of the importance of nature and the interconnectedness of all living things. It is a call to action for us to reconnect with nature and to learn from the trees.

Themes and Messages

The poem “When I Am Among the Trees” by Mary Oliver explores a number of themes, including:

• The importance of protecting the environment
• The interconnectedness of all living things
• The power of nature to heal and transform

The Importance of Protecting the Environment

The poem begins with the speaker describing her experience of being among the trees. She writes, “When I am among the trees, / I feel myself being held / in a soft, green embrace.” The trees provide the speaker with a sense of peace and tranquility. She writes, “The world is too much with us; late and soon, / Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: / Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!” The speaker’s words echo the sentiments of the English poet William Wordsworth, who wrote in his poem “The World Is Too Much with Us”:

“The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”

Like Wordsworth, Oliver believes that we have become too disconnected from nature. She writes, “We live in a world of wounds,
where the trees are seldom seen / as they are,
but as timber or profit.” She calls on us to reconnect with nature and to learn from the trees. She writes, “The trees teach us so much:
patience, endurance,
the ability to survive.”

The poem concludes with the speaker expressing her gratitude for the trees. She writes, “I thank them for their gifts:
their shade, their fruit,
their beauty,
their wisdom.” She also thanks them for teaching her how to live a more meaningful life. She writes, “They teach me how to be still,
how to listen,
how to be grateful for every moment.”

The poem “When I Am Among the Trees” is a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting the environment. It is a call to action for us to reconnect with nature and to learn from the trees.

The Interconnectedness of All Living Things

The poem “When I Am Among the Trees” also explores the interconnectedness of all living things. The speaker writes, “I feel the sap rising in the trees, / and the breath of the wind in my hair.” She

Q: What is the central theme of “When I Am Among the Trees”?

A: The central theme of “When I Am Among the Trees” is the importance of nature and the connection between humans and the natural world. Oliver celebrates the beauty and power of trees, and she emphasizes the importance of spending time in nature in order to connect with our true selves.

Q: What does the speaker mean when she says, “I feel my own life flowing out into the world, / and the world flowing into me”?

A: The speaker is describing the sense of connection and communion she feels with the natural world when she is among the trees. She feels as though she is part of something larger than herself, and she is able to experience a deep sense of peace and tranquility.

Q: What does the speaker learn from the trees?

A: The speaker learns a number of things from the trees, including the importance of patience, resilience, and strength. She also learns about the interconnectedness of all living things, and she comes to understand that she is a part of something larger than herself.

Q: What is the significance of the final line of the poem, “And I feel a kinship with them as with no other beings”?

A: The final line of the poem is a powerful statement of the speaker’s connection to the natural world. She feels a deep sense of kinship with the trees, and she understands that they are her truest teachers and companions.

Q: What is the historical context of “When I Am Among the Trees”?

A: “When I Am Among the Trees” was written in 1972, during a time of great environmental and social upheaval. The poem reflects Oliver’s deep concern for the natural world, and it offers a message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Q: What is the literary significance of “When I Am Among the Trees”?

A: “When I Am Among the Trees” is considered to be one of Mary Oliver’s most important and influential poems. It has been widely anthologized and studied, and it has inspired a number of other works of art and literature. The poem’s lyrical beauty and its powerful message of environmentalism have made it a classic of American poetry.

In her poem When I Am Among the Trees, Mary Oliver celebrates the beauty and wonder of nature. She writes about the different ways that trees provide us with shelter, food, and beauty. She also reflects on the importance of trees for our mental and spiritual health.

Olivers poem is a reminder of the importance of connecting with nature. When we spend time in nature, we can experience a sense of peace and tranquility. We can also learn from trees about resilience and strength. Trees are a source of beauty and wonder, and they can help us to connect with our own inner selves.

Here are some key takeaways from Olivers poem:

• Trees provide us with essential resources, such as food, shelter, and oxygen.
• Trees are a source of beauty and wonder.
• Trees can help us to connect with our own inner selves.
• Spending time in nature is good for our mental and spiritual health.

If you are looking for a way to connect with nature, I encourage you to spend some time in the woods. Take a walk among the trees and listen to the sounds of the forest. Notice the different colors, shapes, and textures of the trees. Feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin. Let yourself be surrounded by the beauty of nature.