Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Beech" is a poem by Elizabeth Jennings, which was first published in her poetry collection titled "Lucidities" in 1960.

Explanation:

In the poem, the speaker describes a beech tree, its tallness and its branches that reach the sky. The tree seems to be a symbol of life, and the speaker seems to be awed by its beauty and majesty. The speaker wonders about the tree's history, how long it has been there, and the stories it could tell if it could speak. The speaker reflects on the tree's stillness and its ability to endure the changing seasons, as well as its beauty in every season. The speaker ends by noting that the tree has stood there long before and will continue to stand long after the speaker is gone.

Poetic Elements:

• Imagery: The poem is full of vivid imagery that paints a picture of the beech tree and its surroundings.
• Personification: The speaker personifies the beech tree, attributing human-like qualities to it.
• Enjambment: The poem uses enjambment to create a flowing rhythm and to connect one line to the next.
• Repetition: The phrase "tallness where" is repeated twice in the poem for emphasis.
• Rhyme Scheme: The poem has an irregular rhyme scheme, with occasional rhyming couplets and slant rhymes.
• Metaphor: The beech tree is a metaphor for the continuity and endurance of life.
• Allusion: The poem alludes to the tree's longevity and history, hinting at the stories it could tell.

Conclusion:

"Beech" is a poem that celebrates the beauty and majesty of nature, particularly the enduring quality of the beech tree. The speaker is awed by the tree's tallness and beauty, and reflects on its stillness and ability to endure the changing seasons. The poem is full of vivid imagery and metaphors, and creates a sense of wonder and awe at the continuity of life.

Poem Snippet:

"Tallness where I did not know

I would need to look up so,

Beauty that is never old,

Endurance we call trees."

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