Trees of Men

I have always been fascinated with trees. Ever since I was young, I loved to climb and play in them. I would observe them and marvel at the many types I would find throughout the world. I loved how they were strong and impossible to move. I’ve noticed how trees have been symbols in stories: a tree in a courtyard in Lord of the Rings symbolized the strength of a weakened kingdom. The Giving Tree taught me my first lesson of being selfless. Trees have many characteristics that I’ve tried to have in my life.

I remember hearing a poem during a speech from someone in my church. The topic they were addressing was that of persistence and continuing in life despite hardships. They used a poem to help show their point, called “Good Timber” by Douglas Malloch.

Good timber does not grow with ease,

The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.

The further the sky, the greater length.

The more the storm, the more the strength.

By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

In trees and men good timbers grow.

Ever since I heard it, I have been fascinated by it, mainly because of its comparison between men and trees. This poem isn’t incredibly complex; it’s rather a simple read, only being six lines long and following an AABBCC rhyme pattern. However, it’s simplicity and message makes it something wonderful. It has helped me through tough times in my life and given me hope for a better future and to endure through trials.

Good timber does not grow with ease,

I used to think that tress did grow effortlessly. Then I watched an episode of Planet Earth about some part of the amazon. There were trees that that were competing with each other for sunlight. They would twist and turn and bend so that it could reach higher for light. I thought that was insane. A tree- something so still and quiet- bending itself over time.

Malloch doesn’t state something like, “It’s hard for trees to grow,” at the beginning of this poem. He picks his words carefully: good timber. Good timber is strong, reaching, competing. Timber like this doesn’t get by in its life without any problems or shakeups. Timber that is strong has to go through its own trials.

The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.

The further the sky, the greater the length.

The more the storm, the more the strength.

I love the way he uses these descriptions to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. I can see tress shaking in during a wind storm, but not moved. I can see trees twisting, bending, leaning so that it can reach higher toward the distant heavens. I can see trees surviving harsh storms that would knock any other being off its feet. I feel like see all of this better by his simple, descriptive words: strong, further, greater, more. For me, these words are reflective to that of a tree. They are simple words that have a sense of continuation in them. The tree will not give up no matter the circumstance. I love the flow of these words as well. They all seem to work together to build up that strong image in the reader’s mind. There’s the subtle alliteration with the repeated “stronger” with “sky” and “more”

By sun and cold, by rain or snow,

I stopped to think a little but longer on this line than I normally would have. I wondered why he chose to put in this line. Why would he mention the usual aspects of weather that a tree embraces every day? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that, sometimes, certain events can be good and bad in life. A tree in a hot climate with long for rain and hate the sun, but a tree being drowned by rain every day looks forward to a day full of sunlight. I wonder the conversation these two trees would have. The tree in the dessert wouldn’t understand how the tree being rained on could be sad in his state.

I wonder how much I’ve done this in my own life. How many times have I’ve taken something for granted that someone else didn’t have? How many times have I been able to experience something that someone else couldn’t? It made me realize that I need to be more thankful for the things in my life that I’ve experienced and for the hardships and fortune I’ve had.

In trees and men good timbers grow.

All of these lines before make up this promise. This line provides the “light at the end of the tunnel” that is so true about any terrible situation. I have been through times that seemed to have no light. I have been a tree, fighting through a blizzard, facing a strong storm, feeling like there was no hope for a better day. I look back at those days and, with the help of perspective, know that hope is always available.

I would think it’s impossible to have a life that doesn’t have troubles. Family members may die, a job may be lost, a sickness discovered. These are the winds, the storms, rain, sun, and everything else that could bother a tree. But when the tree endures this, it becomes that much stronger. It becomes experienced, strengthened, and wise.

I love how the author states that men can become like a tree. Man is capable of so much, but that promise of a better future and becoming stronger will diminish if we let the storms in our lives carry us away. A better future will come if we can make it through the storms. I have felt that in my life. I have seen it in my family and friends’ lives. I have felt it simply by reading this poem. When I’m old one day, physically weakened, I hope my spirit will be as strong as a tree. If I can manage that, I will feel that I will have had a good life.