The Heart of a Tree Summary by Henry Cuyler

Bunner
The poem ‘The Heart of the Tree’ is poem about the beauty of planting a tree or the
satisfaction derived from this practice. In this poem, the poet beautifully describes the
actual essence of what a person plants when he plants a tree. The poet aptly says that
when somebody plants a tree, he plants not only what we call a tree, but something that
serves as a friend of sun, sky, and breeze.
The Heart of a Tree Poem Summary

Here, the poet wants to say that the sky’s brightness, sun’s warmth and the touch of
breeze make them a friend of a plant. He further observes that the stems are like
beauty shafts which keep growing. The dense branches of the plant act as a true
shelter or home to different types of birds, with their colourful presence as messengers
of Nature’s beauty, diversity and bounteousness.
They tweet, chirp and croon in their fascinating voices thus making the surroundings
pleasant. In a way, as the poet feels, the person who plants a tree also plants a future.
This is because the tree will bring rain and coolness to the environment, and will thus
become an identity of the habitat.
This will play a major role in producing food for future generation. Furthermore, the
person who plants trees also acts as a good citizen of his country because, by planting
a tree, he brings joy and blessings to the neighbourhood. As a result of all he does, the
land becomes fertile, and thus a boon to the humankind.

The Heart of a Tree Summary Critical Analysis

The poem ‘The Heart of the Tree’ comprises three stanzas of 9 lines each. The rhyming
pattern for the three stanzas is slightly uneven, and it can be indicated as ababbccaa.
The poem begins with a refrain ‘What does he plant who plants a tree?’ that is repeated
at the beginning of each stanza highlighting the thought that how beneficial it is to
plant a tree.
In the first stanza the poet explains that one who plants a tree plants a friend of sun
and sky, flag of free breezes and home to countless birds whose song we hear in the
twilight that denotes heaven’s harmony. In the second stanza the poet emphasizes that
he plants shade and rain, seeds and buds of tomorrow which would raise the glory of
earth in plains and strengthen the forests to benefit generations ahead, in the third
stanza he concludes one who plants a tree germinates the far-cast thought that would
bring blessings resulting in growth of the nation.
The poem discusses the usefulness of a tree elaborating on how a tree that is planted
benefits not only the«nature, a nation, but also contributes to the growth of humankind.
One who plants a tree aspires for his nation’s growth. Trees stand straight and steady,
giving an impression as if they are touching the sun and the sky. They sway with the
breeze and beautify the surrounding.
They are home to chirruping birds which sing sweetly and display heaven’s harmony on
this earth. Trees give us shade and bring rain. They pave a way for many more seeds to
grow and buds to bloom in future. Trees contribute to forest wealth of our nation arid
they ensure plenty harvest in the days to come. The one who plants a tree has a noble
thought of a common good that would be a boon for man in general and the nation in
particular. He has a dream of the growth of all his land when he plants a tree.

The Heart of a Tree Summary Word Meanings

1. breezes – soft cold winds

2. shaft – gleam; streak
3. towering high – growing as tall as a tower
4. anigh – close; near
5. mother – croon of bird – the soft song that mother bird sings to her young ones;
6. tender – soft; mellow
7. fade – wither
8. flush – wash out
9. heritage – legacy
10. unborn eyes – reference to future generations yet to born
11. sap – juice; liquid
12. far – cast – foresee
13. civic – public
14. hollow – empty space; void
15. stirs – stimulates