Two TreesCONTRAST: Don Miguel and The man

The man has no identity and Don Miguel has a name/foreign sounding. Well known among his neighbours, even kids come to see his trees.

Don Miguel has “one idea rooted in his head” and the man has ‘no dream’.

Don Miguel is patient and caring when it comes to looking after the trees and in binding them whereas the man just split them with no thought/ instantaneously – he didn’t care about their emotions.

Contrast in the word choice used in the stanzas. Free and light have positive connotations and the second stanza is gloomy and despairing – weep, strained, empty.

The more dismissive nature of the end of the second stanza – “They were trees and trees don’t weep or ache or shout. And trees are all this poem is about.”

“Rooted” in contrast with “whim” – rooted suggests its stuck and a definite plan whereas whim suggests it’s not very well thought out/not thinking about the consequences. THE EXTENDED METAPHOR:

The trees represent a relationship and how long it takes to grow and how suddenly it can be spilt. How other people’s interference can disrupt the dynamics of a relationship. Despite all the traumas these relationships have a lasting impact and are a big part of both parties lives.

PERSONIFICATION: Emphasising the extended metaphor the trees representing human emotions

“Lay open their sides” – not always perfect, sounds similar to a hospital procedure, relationships can often hurt.

“The limbs would get themselves so tangled up” – how in a relationship your problems become the other persons problems, your lives become one.

“From the shame or from the fright” – possible criticisms from others for not being able to conceive.

“Unhealed flanks” – raw, open wound/open argument e.g. a long divorce.

“Intricate embrace” – delicate relationship. “Did not die from solitude” – you can overcome hard times and life goes

on.

SIMPLISTIC STYLE:

Makes the poem seem childlike and emphasises the poem isn’t just about trees. The title is also simplistic. The rhyming couplet’s at the end of each line adds to the idea that relationships aren’t just black and white. They emphasise that the trees are representing something much larger.

REPETITION: In the first stanza the repetition of ‘one’ relates back to the idea

that Don Miguel’s idea was rooted and that it keeps coming back into his mind, continually present, its well planned.

Trees in the last line and or – sarcastic. Showing that trees and relationships are a lot more complicated than they may seem from the outside. The poem is about humans not trees.

POINTS OF SIMILARITY WITH OTHER POEMS:

The Thread – fragility of life and relationship Waking with Russell – effect of relationships 11:00 Baldovan – change The ferryman’s arms – Duality / separation and unity

WORD CHOICE:

“rooted” the use of the pun brings a light tone to the beginning of the poem (contrasts to second stanza). Also emphasises that the idea is stuck firmly in his head.

“Dark malicious” has connotations of evil, cynical or heartless. Shows the mindless actions of “the man”

STRUCTURE: Monosyllabic “led him to take his axe and split the bole” violent and

abrupt, makes the line stand out bringing emphasis to the fact that the man is acting without thought.

Multiple negation “not one kid in the village didn’t know” Emphasises the popularity and the renowned magic of the trees

THEMES Effect of relationships Separation and unity Human intervention Love and loss

MASKKirsty, Alice, Seumas , Mairead