Poem: They have Cut Down the Pines by Mary Lisle

 

Poem: They have Cut Down the Pines by Mary Lisle

The poem expresses the sorrow of losing the pine trees, emphasizing the impact

on both nature and creatures who depended on trees, illustrating the silence and

absence left in the wake of

(aftermath) human activity.

They have Cut Down the Pines

"They have cut down the pines where they stood;
The wind will miss them —- the rain,
When its silver blind is down,
They have stripped the bark from the wood, (outer covering)
The needly boughs, and the brown
Knobbly nuts trodden into the ground." (lumps/piece)   

"The kind the friendly trees,
Where all the day small winds sound,
And all day long the sun
Plays hide and seek with shadows
Till the multiplying shadows turn to one
And night is here."  

"They have cut down the trees and ended now
The gentle colloquy of bough and bough."  (conversation)
"They are making a fence by the creek, (water path)
And have cut down the pines for the posts. 

Wan in the sunlight for ghosts  (pale, weak) 
The naked trunks lie." 
"A bird nested there but it will seek 
In vain: they have cut down the pines."    

…………………………………………………

Rhyme scheme and Paraphrasing

Stanza 1:
"They have cut down the pines where they stood;  A
The wind will miss them —--- the rain,   B
When its silver blind is down,  C
They have stripped the bark from the wood, (outer covering)   A
The needly boughs, and the brown  C
Knobbly nuts trodden into the ground." (lumps/piece)   C

Rhyme scheme: ABCACC

Paraphrase:
The pines that once stood tall have now been cut down. The wind, like the rain,

will feel their absence, especially when it cannot pass through their branches.

The bark has been removed from the trees, and the pine needles and brown nuts

have been crushed into the earth.

Stanza 2:
"The kind the friendly trees,  A
Where all the day small winds sound,   B
And all day long the sun   C
Plays hide and seek with shadows   D
Till the multiplying shadows turn to one   C
And night is here." E

Rhyme scheme: ABCDCE

Paraphrase:
These trees were the kind that welcomed the breeze, where gentle winds could

be heard throughout the day. The sunlight would dance with the shadows,

creating a changing pattern that eventually blends into nightfall as the shadows

grow longer.

Stanza 3
"They have cut down the trees and ended now   A
The gentle colloquy of bough and bough."  (conversation)   B
"They are making a fence by the creek, (water path)   C
And have cut down the pines for the posts.    D

Rhyme scheme: ABCD

Paraphrase:
The trees have been felled, and with that, the quiet conversation between the

branches of the trees has come to an end. The pines have been chopped down

to serve as posts for a fence by the creek.

Stanza 4:
Wan in the sunlight for ghosts  (pale, weak)    A
The naked trunks lie."    B
"A bird nested there but it will seek    C
In vain: they have cut down the pines."    D

Rhyme scheme: ABCD

Paraphrase:
The bare trunks now stand in the sunlight, looking ghostly, as though they are

empty reminders of what once was. A bird that once made its home in those

pines will now search in vain for a place to rest because the trees have been

cut down.

Theme:
The central theme of "They Have Cut Down the Pines" by Mary Lisle is the profound impact of human actions on the natural world,

particularly the loss of nature's beauty and the disruption of the delicate balance

between humans and nature. The poem explores how the cutting down of the

pines, which once provided shelter, life, and a sense of harmony, leads to the

absence of these qualities. It reflects on the silence left behind by the trees, whose

presence was once filled with life, wind, and birdsong. This loss is depicted not

only in physical terms but also in emotional ones, as the poem contemplates how

such acts of destruction affect the broader natural environment, leaving a void

(useless) that can never be fully replaced.

Central Idea:
The central idea of the poem revolves around the sorrow of cutting down the pines

and the consequences of this loss for both nature and those who interacted with it.

The poem illustrates the beauty and tranquility the trees provided, how they were a

place of refuge for both animals and humans, and the melancholy that follows when

they are removed for other purposes, such as building a fence. The poem reflects on

the irreversible nature of such actions and the emptiness left in their wake.

Summary:

In "They Have Cut Down the Pines," Mary Lisle mourns the loss of the pines that once stood tall and vibrant, providing shelter and beauty to the natural world. The poem captures the quiet sadness of the wind missing the trees; the sun cannot play with shadows in their absence and the end of the gentle interaction between the branches. The pines have been felled to serve as posts for a fence, leaving behind only bare trunks that seem ghostly in the sunlight. A bird that once nested in the trees now searches in vain for a place to call home. Thorough this, the poem conveys the lasting effects of human actions on the environment, emphasizing the irreversible nature of such losses.