The main theme of the poem, “The heart of the tree”, is about the usefulness of the trees. The poet emphasizes how beneficial trees are not only the present generation but also for the future generations. By talking about a tree planter, the poet hopes to spread the message amongst his readers that the planting of a tree is important for the survival of mankind on the planet. The simple theme deals with the main idea of the poem which is about preserving nature.

The Heart of the Tree Poem Line by Line Summary & Explanation

Literary devices used in the poem, “The Heart of the Tree” are:-

1) Alliteration:- is the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby or adjacent words. For example, alliteration occurs in the poem when the poet says, “What does he plant who plants a tree?/ He plants a friend of sun and sky.”

2) Metaphor:- is used to compare two different objects using a single similarity. For example, the poet compares the tree to a flag and a tall tower when he says, “the flag of breezes free” and “the shaft of beauty towering high” respectively.

3) Personification:- is when an inanimate object is given human-like qualities. For example, in the poem, the poet personifies the tree by saying “a friend of sun and sky.”

4) Metonymy:- is where one word is used instead of another one closely associated to it. For example, the poet uses the word “heaven” in the poem to represent the sky when he says, “He plants a home to heaven anigh.”

The Heart of the Tree Poem Line by Line Summary & Explanation