Robert Frost ties his poem "Birches" in with multiple elements of nature. He refers to the bent trees as being weighted down by ice. "When I see birches bend to left and right Across the lines of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy's been swinging them. But swinging them doesn't bend them down to stay As ice storms do." (785) He relates the ecological cycle of water and precipitation to growth. However, his reference to growth does not strictly adhere to ecology. "Birches" also features growth in character as well. He references the separation or innocence of childhood to the difficulties of adulthood. He looks at nature from a common-folk perspective: "So was I once a swinger of birches. And so I dream of going back to be" (785). His appreciation of the trees in relation to ecology allow the reader to hold a renewed respect for nature. He speaks of earth as the "right place" for the most common human emotion. "Earth's the right place for love: I don't know where it's likely to go better" (786). Frost uses the different sects of ecology in accordance with human growth. Ecologically speaking, everything that happens within an environment affects something else. Humans have the same connection except not only with themselves, but with nature. How humans view and respect their surroundings plays a major role on ecological balance. In other words, ice may be a nuisance after we selfishly soak up summer sun-rays, but it is a necessity for the replenishment of our trees parched bark.
I like how you pulled out the double meaning of "birches" in the poem. Like Dr. Cassel says, whenever a poet says one thing, he almost always means at least two things. Sometimes I dream of going back to be a swinger of mulberries- that's what kind of tree we had as a kid :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you noticed that as well. You're right, life was so much easier as worry-free child swinging on tree branches. :)
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