[Tree]
Click for photos
 
A Poem Lovely as a Tree
Listen [4:39]:
"I think that I shall never see/ A poem lovely as a tree" is the first line of Joyce Kilmer's most famous poem, "Trees". It is read at arbor day celebrations; it has been set to music several times; and it is taught in elementary schools around the country. It is loved, but also mocked as a simplistic poem, lacking in substance. Each year at Columbia University, there is a Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest.

Kilmer was born in 1886, and lived most of his short life in New Jersey. He was killed in 1918 in France, in the second battle of the Marne. Before he enlisted in the army, he was on staff at the New York Times, and as a Catholic convert, wrote religious inspired poetry. He wrote Trees in 1913. This piece explores 'Trees' through readings, song and interviews with Kilmer's grandson and others.

() comments

This piece was produced for Weekend America and aired Decmeber 3, 2005. It also aired on WKMS (4/6/06), WFIU (4/8/06) and New Hampshire Public Radio's Front Porch (1/7/07). The revised version aired on Prime Time Postscript the week of January 10, 2006.

Producer: Sarah Elzas, edited with Amanda Aronczyk and Jim Gates
Recorded in New York, NY and Union City, NJ
Recording assistance from Tina Pamintuan
Image: Sarah Elzas

Music:
- Trees by Oscar Rasbach performed by Paul Robeson with the New Mayfair Orchestra (from The Essential Paul Robeson/Asv Living Era)
- Trees by Oscar Rasbach performed by Dave Apollon (from The Man with the Mandolin/Acoustic Disc)
AUDIO
  ->
  ->
  ->
TEXT
  ->
  ->
  ->
  ->
  ->
  ->
  ->
LINKS
  ->
  ->
  ->
 



top of page ^

Copyright © 2004-2014 Sarah Elzas. All Rights Reserved.
Material on this site may only be used with express permission from Sarah Elzas.
ToucanRadio logo designed by Juliana Douglas.