POEM#O4
GOOD TIMBER
STANZA WISE EXPLANATION:
INTRODUCTION TO THE POET:
This poem is written by Douglas Malloch (1877-1938). He was American poet, short-story writer and an newspaper associate editor of American Lumberman, a trade paper in Chicago. He was born in Muskegon, Michigan which was surrounded by forests, logging camps, and lumber yards. This rural setting became the inspiration for his poetry and made him famous as a "Lumberman's poet." He is remembered for writing his master pieces, i.e. "Round River Drive" and "Be the Best of Whatever You Are". He was commissioned to write the Michigan State Song.
STANZA#01
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
EXPLANATION:
The poet utilizes a tree as a reference in this stanza to represent someone who has never fought against anything in his life because he has been provided with enough necessities such as sun, sky, air, and light to reside, so he does not feel the need to achieve more in his life and is less concerned with resources. His life is proceeding well because he has food, air, water, and almost every other basic need that an ordinary man requires, so he never attempts to dominate others. He never becomes the leader, ruler, or majestic and strongest tree among all the trees in a forest; rather, he remains in the majority instead of striving to be the one that is distinct from every individual. because without struggle no man can become the one who is recognizable. These type of tree's often struck down and ( or observed )come to death as a scrubby thing.
STANZA#02
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
EXPLANATION:
In these words, the poet describes a person who never learned to be ambitious and disciplined in his life. A tree that has been given the essential elements for life will never try to grow and flourish among the others in a forest. Similarly, a man who is provided with basic requirements is unlikely to seek out further opportunities to develop his personality. Hardship is required for development; no one can become strong and fearless without struggle. A man who does not strive to be a better version of himself so his social, intellectual, and political standings always remains un distinct since he is supplied with the resources he requires to exist. As a result, he lives and dies without doing anything meaningful in his life.
STANZA#03
Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
EXPLANATION:
In this stanza the poet discuses what makes a tree strong and long. He is contrasting the man's life to the life of a tree, which is getting stronger and longer but not without difficulties winds makes the tree stronger because the tree had to struggle to resist the wind which makes the trees stronger. Similarly, A man can only become strong when he overcomes difficulties and hardships, just as a tree does when it tackles adversity and sufferings with bravery. A tree can only grow into good timber after enduring the challenges of scorching sun, cold and hot weather, snow, and rain. In this stanza, the poet has skillfully connected fine timber to men.
STANZA#04
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.
EXPLANATION:
In these lines the poet has tries to reveal the bare fact that a good timber and good men always select the thickest part of the forest's as their residence, because the good and strong timber encounters the forces of nature for their growth, both great men and good timber has a cluster of great personalities which we can observe through their forefathers, from their chosen place they seem to consult with the stars & holds counsel with them. like trees consider their suffering of harsh winds as a scars on their lumbers. Similarly, good men's scars is the clear reflection of the fact that they have faced harsh words & have been striving hard as this is the common law of life.
Prepared By: Hafsa Anwar
