Maya Angelou’s poem “When Great Trees Fall” takes readers on an emotional journey that reflects on appreciation, loss, and the importance of cherishing and nurturing the bonds between individuals. Composed of five stanzas, the poem has a lyrical and rhythmical atmosphere created by Angelou’s poetic diction, repetition and rhythm. The poem is focused as it uses a metaphor of a tree falling to remind us of how life’s moments are often fleeting and how we still must toil onward nonetheless.
Angelou uses metaphorical language throughout the poem in order to demonstrate how death or change, even those that are unpleasant, can provide individuals with an opportunity to create new memories. For instance, in the first stanza, she mentions that “For nothing gold can stay” and “Her hard gravel voice warns”. This suggests to readers that a loss can provide an opportunity for renewal as well as a sense of caution for things to come.
The poem also references nature in order to describe the different circumstances in which a tree can fall. In the third stanza, Angelou talks about the “strong winds of the day” and “soft breath of a night”. These references to the environment provide insight to readers on a broader level about how people need to prepare for the unexpected in life.
The poem is full of images and other details that illustrate the nature of time’s unyielding passage and the changing of seasons. For example, in the first stanza, Angelou mentions the leaves “tumbling” and “naked winter”. She is conveying to readers that, despite the sorrowful events that occur in life, nature will continue to move forward without interruption.
The poem is also written with a high degree of emotion that can be felt with each line. Angelou is writing in a very personal and intimate way, as if readers were in the same room with her. This is accomplished through her use of words such as “mama”, “mighty”, and “kin”—all words which suggest an emotional connection and a familiarity with the changing of life.
The end of the poem also serves to show the greater message of the poem; that sometimes we must accept change and find ways to move on without fear even through difficult times. Angelou uses a powerful and passionate description of the tree’s “tenacious spirit” in order to demonstrate how individuals must also strive to be determined and courageous in the face of great challenges.
The Loss of a Loved One
Maya Angelou’s poem “When Great Trees Fall” speaks about the loss of a cherished person, situation, or event in life. The metaphor of a fallen tree references the idea of losing a stable anchor that has become a part of our lives. Throughout the poem, Angelou is emphasizing the importance of making the most of our lives and realizing that at some point, all things must come to an end. The poem expresses to readers a message of hope – not love of what has been lost, but an appreciation for the time we had with them.
In this poem, Angelou’s use of language helps to capture the emotion of loss. Words such as “grief” and “angels” speak to the gravity of the situation. Similarly, she emphasizes the importance of acceptance by using words such as “tumble” and “naked”. This imagery helps to illustrate the idea of needing to accept death or change. Lastly, she includes words such as “mama” and “kin” to give her message an intimate and personal feel.
In her poem, Angelou difficultly suggests the idea of coping with loss. She encourages the readers to continue living and look for the beauty in life, even when tragedy has occurred. She acknowledges that there is sorrow in life, but also hope in the quiet moments. This is captured in her stanza “From pain may come a greater truth”, which speaks of resilience and basking in gratitude rather than dwelling in sadness.
Overall, Maya Angelou’s poem “When Great Trees Fall” serves as a reminder that sorrow and loss are a part of life, and that these things too shall pass. The poem encourages readers to accept and to embrace any changes that life brings and to find the beauty in even the darkest of times.
Finding New Beginnings
Maya Angelou’s “When Great Trees Fall” speaks to the importance of appreciating the moments we are given, even during the times of loss. Through her use of metaphor, imagery and language, Angelou encourages readers to find strength and courage during difficult times. Her lyrical and rhythmical diction also helps to capture the emotion of mourning, as well as to remind us of the joys that come even in the wake of tragedy.
The poem also speaks to the idea of finding new beginnings and accepting that change is a natural part of life. Angelou points to nature in describing the circumstances of a tree falling and the change of seasons, suggesting that the same modifications occur in life too. This is exemplified by her line “for nothing gold can stay”, which conveys the idea of accepting death or change while still finding a way to move forward.
The poem speaks to how these changes in life can be difficult to accept but are necessary to create new memories. In the fifth stanza, Angelou mentions the tenacious spirit of the tree, a metaphor for the courage that is needed to find peace and joy during difficult times. This serves as an example of how individuals must learn to move forward and make the most out of their circumstances.
Overall, “When Great Trees Fall” serves as a reminder that although life is often unexpected, it is full of moments of joy. The poem speaks to the important lesson of making the most out of every moment and finding hope in even the darkest of times.
Learning to Let Go
Maya Angelou’s “When Great Trees Fall” speaks of the importance of learning to accept the loss of a special person, thing, or occasion as well as the idea of learning to let go of the past and move forward in life. The poem is full of powerful imagery and employs a lyrical and rhythmical diction to emphasize its powerful message.
Through her description of the environment surrounding the fallen tree, Angelou references the idea of accepting the changing of seasons in life. She uses words such as “mighty winds of day” and suggests that life can often be unexpected and difficult to accept. Despite this, readers are encouraged to find something hopeful in the change – to seek out new opportunities and to continue striving.
The poem is also full of emotion as Angelou speaks to readers on an intimate level. She uses words such as “mama” and “kin” in order to convey an emotional connection as well as demonstrate how tragedy can bring people closer together. Ultimately, the poem speaks to the idea of learning to let go and carry on, even during times of sorrow.
Ultimately, Maya Angelou’s “When Great Trees Fall” serves as a reminder to readers that change and loss are a part of life, but that individuals must never forget to appreciate the moments we have been given. The poem speaks to us on an emotional level and encourages us to always find hope, even in the darkest of times.
Appreciating the Moment
Maya Angelou’s “When Great Trees Fall” combines metaphorical language, imagery and emotion to illustrate the importance of cherishing and nurturing the moments that life has given us. The poem speaks to readers on an intimate level, captivating them with its lyrical and rhythmical tone while also conveying a powerful and hopeful message.
Angelou also textually conveys the idea of accepting and appreciating all that life has to offer, even in times of difficulty and loss. This idea is expressed through words such as “tumble” and “naked” which suggest the idea of life’s passage being unyielding and unstoppable. Despite this, readers are encouraged to seek out joy and find the beauty in life’s changes.
In addition, the poem features powerful imagery which evokes emotion and encourages readers to appreciate their lives. Angelou’s words such as “mighty” and “kin” speak to the idea of finding strength, even in the face of tragedy. This is also captured in her stanza “From pain may come a greater truth”, which speaks of resilience and basking in gratitude instead of dwelling in sadness.
Overall, Maya Angelou’s poem “When Great Trees Fall” speaks of the importance of making the most out of each moment. The poem serves as a reminder to readers to always look for the beauty and hope even in the darkest of times, and to appreciate and cherish the moments that life gives.
