On the surface it is a poem about choosing and decorating a Christmas tree. But the music helps you slow down to notice more. This is what I heard: the innocence of a child’s love and care, the loss that comes with leaving a place, the attention to detail, the beauty of the moment, sacrifice, the loveliness of appreciation, the giving of life for the joy of praise, the “noel” that keeps singing long after the song and poem have ended in silence.
I failed to find (or didn’t know enough to find) a good recording of this to post, so I can only share half of the experience. But we can grab a thermos of coffee anytime, head for the park and I’ll play it for you.
little tree by e.e. cummingslittle tree
little silent Christmas treeyou are so littleyou are more like a flowerwho found you in the green forestand were you very sorry to come away?see i will comfort youbecause you smell so sweetlyi will kiss your cool barkand hug you safe and tightjust as your mother would,only don’t be afraidlook the spanglesthat sleep all the year in a dark boxdreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,put up your little armsand i’ll give them all to you to holdevery finger shall have its ringand there won’t be a single place dark or unhappythen when you’re quite dressedyou’ll stand in the window for everyone to seeand how they’ll stare!oh but you’ll be very proudand my little sister and i will take handsand looking up at our beautiful treewe’ll dance and sing“Noel Noel”
Leave a Reply