Poem Analysis - The Trees Like Tassels Hit And Swung

A Whimsical Dance of Nature

Emily Dickinson's The Trees Like Tassels hit and Swung paints a vivid, almost playful portrait of a summer day, where nature is alive with movement and music. The tone is light and joyous at first, with imagery of trees swaying and tiny creatures singing, but shifts subtly as the poem explores the fleeting and unpredictable nature of beauty. By the end, the poem contrasts this vibrant natural world with the limitations of human art, leaving a bittersweet impression of wonder and longing.

Themes: Nature's Beauty, Impermanence, and the Limits of Art

The poem revolves around three key themes. First, nature's beauty is celebrated through lively imagery—trees "like tassels," singing creatures, and "bright flowers" soaring like flags. Second, Dickinson hints at impermanence; the sun plays hide-and-seek, and the creatures' music "never yet did satisfy," suggesting beauty is fleeting. Finally, the poem contrasts nature's splendor with the limits of art, dismissing even the famed painter Vandyke's work as "mean" compared to the real thing.

Symbols and Images: The Sun, Music, and the Snake

The sun acts as a capricious ruler, disappearing behind clouds "as if Himself were optional," symbolizing nature's unpredictability. The music from "miniature creatures" and "far psalteries" evokes a harmonious yet elusive quality, as if the sounds are too perfect to last. A snake, "charmed" by "gossip," introduces a hint of danger or temptation, adding complexity to the otherwise idyllic scene. These images deepen the poem's meditation on beauty's ephemeral and untamed nature.

Conclusion: The Ineffable Magic of Summer

Dickinson captures the ineffable magic of a summer day, where every element—from the sun to the flowers—seems alive and fleeting. The poem's dismissal of human art ("Vandyke’s Delineation") underscores how nature's beauty surpasses imitation. In the end, the poem leaves readers with a sense of awe and a quiet reminder that some wonders are too vast to be fully captured, even in words.