little tree

The blog BookRiot has posted an Advent Literary Calendar, and it’s great. Each day features a poem or an essay with an association with Christmas.   I’m going to use it in some way in my entries here.

The December 1 posting was ee cummings’ poem – the speaker is a child; the one addressed is the tree:

 

[little tree]               By  E. E. Cummings 

 

 

little tree

 

little silent Christmas tree

 

you are so little

 

you are more like a flower

 

 

who found you in the green forest

 

and were you very sorry to come away?

 

see          i will comfort you

 

because you smell so sweetly

 

 

i will kiss your cool bark

 

and hug you safe and tight

 

just as your mother would,

 

only don't be afraid

 

 

look          the spangles

 

that sleep all the year in a dark box

 

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

 

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

 

 

put up your little arms

 

and i'll give them all to you to hold

 

every finger shall have its ring

 

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

 

 

then when you're quite dressed

 

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

 

and how they'll stare!

 

oh but you'll be very proud

 

 

and my little sister and i will take hands

 

and looking up at our beautiful tree

 

we'll dance and sing

 

"Noel Noel"