"Loveliest of Trees" by A.E. Housman
This week’s poem is A.E. Housman’s “Loveliest of Trees.” This poem is uncomplicated and sweet, but tinged with a bit of poignancy. I love it.
I recommend that you first read Housman’s words, then the paraphrase, then go back and read Housman’s words once more.
In this poem, Housman describes the decision to “look at things in bloom” while the speaker is able, because fifty years is such a little space of time in which to appreciate the endless beauties of springtime blooms.
This poem is a bit atypical for Housman, who is most famous for lines like, “Shake hands, we shall never be friends, All’s over,” and, when referring to the setting sun, “Ensanguining the skies, how heavily it dies.” I adore his poetry, but I don’t typically look to it for avid celebrations of beauty like what we see here. Still though, in Loveliest of Trees, we see a hint of death on the horizon when he says, “Fifty springs are little room.”
And yet, that line serves to bring the beauty of the poem together in a way it wouldn’t be otherwise. Because we don’t have forever, we must walk about the woodland ride today—right now. More broadly: life is not long enough to see every beautiful thing in the world. So, let’s go; let’s see as much of it as we can in the time we are given.
“Loveliest of Trees” describes the beauty of cherry trees in the spring, but it is about enjoying the beauty of life while we are able.
**It has come to my attention that there is some disagreement in the world of literary criticism around whether Housman used the word “snow” literally or figuratively. Here, it is assumed that the word “snow” is used figuratively. And, I think that is correct. But, it is interesting to think about it the other way. If you decide to paraphrase the last stanza using the word “snow” literally, I would love to see what you come up with. (Comment below!)