When I am Among the Trees (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes
When I am Among the Trees
About Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver was an acclaimed American poet who won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for her nature poetry. Known for her deep connection to the natural world, Oliver wrote about wild geese, birds in flight, and the transformative power of spending time in nature. She decided at age 13 that she wanted to be a poet alongside studying as an archaeologist and ornithologist, showing her lifelong commitment to observing and understanding the natural world.
Oliver's background in archaeology and ornithology gave her the scientific knowledge that informed her poetry, allowing her to write with what critics call "informed love" - a deep, specific understanding of the natural world rather than superficial appreciation.
The poem
"When I Am Among the Trees" is one of Oliver's most beloved poems, exploring the spiritual connection between humans and nature. The poem presents a four-stanza journey from recognition to transformation.
Full text:
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
First stanza analysis
The opening stanza establishes the speaker's relationship with trees, but this isn't simply a casual nature lover's appreciation. Oliver demonstrates what critics call "informed love" - she knows the specific characteristics of different tree species:
- Willows - known for their graceful, drooping branches
- Honey locust - recognisable for their delicate, feathery leaves
- Beech - distinguished by their smooth bark
- Oaks - famous for their strength and longevity
- Pines - evergreen conifers with needle-like leaves
The phrase "hints of gladness" suggests that trees communicate joy, but subtly. The line "I would almost say that they save me, and daily" introduces the poem's central theme - that human knowledge and appreciation alone aren't sufficient for spiritual wellbeing.
Something beyond our understanding, perhaps grace, is needed for daily salvation. This sets up the poem's exploration of spiritual transformation through nature.
Second stanza analysis
This stanza creates a powerful contrast between the speaker's current reality and her ideal self. The phrase "distant from the hope of myself" reveals a gap between who she is and who she aspires to be.
The ideal self possesses:
- Goodness - moral virtue
- Discernment - wisdom and good judgement
- Mindful living - never hurrying but walking slowly
- Reverence - bowing often, showing respect
This stanza critiques modern life's tendency to rush through daily distractions - checking phones, answering messages, making appointments - which distances us from our core spiritual selves. Oliver suggests we lose touch with the feelings of hope and joy that should guide us.
The contrast between the hurried modern world and the mindful, reverent approach to life reflects a common theme in contemporary spiritual and environmental literature.
Third stanza analysis
The trees become active participants through personification - they "stir in their leaves and call out." The invitation to "Stay awhile" represents nature's counter-message to our hurried world.
The image "The light flows from their branches" works on multiple levels:
- Literally describes sunlight filtering through leaves
- Symbolically represents spiritual illumination
- Suggests the life force that animates all beings
Literary Technique: Personification
Oliver transforms passive trees into active spiritual guides:
- Trees "stir in their leaves" - suggesting intentional movement
- Trees "call out" - giving them voices
- Trees offer invitations - making them caring hosts
This technique elevates nature from mere scenery to wise teacher.
This stanza connects to the Emersonian tradition - Ralph Waldo Emerson believed nature was essentially a spiritual text that careful observers could read. However, Oliver maintains respect for the mystery between humans and nature - the trees' exact message remains wonderfully unclear.
Fourth stanza analysis
The final stanza presents the trees' ultimate message through direct speech. The word "simple" emphasises that spiritual truth doesn't require complexity. The trees' teaching focuses on:
- "Go easy" - move through the world with awareness and gentleness
- "Be filled with light" - allow spiritual grace and warmth to enter
- "Shine" - pass this light on to others
The metaphor of light connects to the earlier image of light flowing from branches. Like sunlight filtering through trees, we're meant to receive spiritual illumination and then radiate it outward to touch others.
The climactic message reveals the poem's central teaching: we exist not just to receive spiritual grace, but to pass it on to others through our own "shining."
Key themes and techniques
Nature as teacher: Trees become wise guides offering spiritual instruction to humans struggling with modern life's demands.
Light symbolism: Throughout the poem, light represents grace, spiritual awareness, and the life force that connects all beings.
Personification: Trees are given human qualities - they stir, call out, and speak, making them active participants rather than passive scenery.
Spiritual journey: The four stanzas trace a progression from recognition (stanza 1) through self-reflection (stanza 2) to invitation (stanza 3) and finally transformation (stanza 4).
Mindfulness: The poem advocates for slowing down, paying attention, and being present rather than rushing through life.
The poem's structure mirrors the experience of spending time in nature - beginning with observation, moving through reflexion, and ending with a sense of renewed purpose and understanding.
Key Points to Remember:
- Mary Oliver uses specific tree names to show "informed love" rather than superficial appreciation of nature
- The poem critiques modern life's distractions that separate us from our spiritual selves
- Trees are personified as wise teachers offering simple but profound guidance
- Light imagery symbolises grace, spiritual awareness, and the life force connecting all beings
- The ultimate message is to "go easy, be filled with light, and shine" - receive grace and pass it on to others