Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now

Portrait of A.E. Housman
A.E. Housman 1859–1936

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough, And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten, Twenty will not come again, And take from seventy springs a score, It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom Fifty springs are little room, About the woodlands I will go To see the cherry hung with snow.

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Stanzas quoted
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Most quoted
“Now, of my threescore years and ten”3 readers
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Syed Ahmad Bukhari441 words
  1. Eric United States

    You may notice that this poems main themes are about beauty, the passage of time, and life. First off the speaker is 20 years old because threescore years and ten equals seventy years, and it's stated that the speaker is only left with fifty more. The reference to easter indicates the springing up of new life, which contradicts the tone of the poem because the speaker is fixed only on the fact that his time is dwindling. Regardless, he will continue to search for the new easter trees and remain young through them.

  2. Harsh India

    The poet,A.E.Houseman,is expressing his feelings while describing the beauty of a cherry tree in the season of rebirth,the spring season.While reading the poem,I feel that the poet is taking me on a beautiful journey through an area which is lined on both sides by blossoming cherry trees.The poet feels that if he has only 50 more years left{threescore(3*20) years and ten =70years - 20 will not come again},he would not like to waste it by thinking negative thoughts but would like to enjoy it like a celebration of life.The cherry tree becomes a symbol of hope,renewal,inner beauty and inspiration for the poet.

  3. farkhanda Pakistan

    the beauty of nature , especially of cherry is captivating.but life is too short to relish it. even fifty years are not enough to enjoy it fully.the poet says that one should not miss any chance of enjoying the bloom of the loveliest of trees the cherry ,in the woods in all seasons.

  4. Nick United States

    Housemans theme throughout most of him poems is Times Effect on Humanity. It is clearly stated in this poem with the fact that he is twenty years old and he only has fifty more springs to experience the cherry tree blossom. He doesnt want to waste time because it is valuable so he goes to see the trees in the winter covered with snow

  5. James United States

    The poem itself may be hopeful and full of prospects. However upon looking at it in a more in-depth analysis, we see that Housman is actually reflecting a sad and melancholy mood. He does seem to enjoy the coming of spring and renewel; however in underscoring this point, he admits to the inevitability of death. Everything comes to an end and Spring is only a temporary state. Ultimately, all things result in death.

  6. Corey

    To me this is a poem of life and time. i can manly tell because of the time change in every paragraph. it is saying that as time goes on are life grows shorter.Mostly because one day we will all die.weather we wont to or not.

  7. Syed Ahmad Bukhari Pakistan

    Stanza # I Reference: - These musically rhymed lines have been taken from the poem, “Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now,” composed by A.E. Housman. Context: - The poem is an amazing blend of pain and pleasure, excitement and regret, freshness of nature and brief span of human life. It also tells us about the deep love of the poet for the snow capped cherry tree. The poet has been animating his vision by this lovely…

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    Stanza # I
    Reference: -
    These musically rhymed lines have been taken from the poem, “Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now,” composed by A.E. Housman.
    Context: -
    The poem is an amazing blend of pain and pleasure, excitement and regret, freshness of nature and brief span of human life. It also tells us about the deep love of the poet for the snow capped cherry tree. The poet has been animating his vision by this lovely sight for the last fifty years. But this flame of passion for the cherry seems increasing with every passing year.
    Explanation:-
    In these beautiful lines the poet has unveiled his intense love for cherry tree, which is an ambassador of nature. It blossoms in spring which reveals its beauty in original form. It truly captivates, bewitches and allures the poet to the extent that it becomes a source of everlasting joy for him. To quote John Keats,
    “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
    Its loneliness increases;
    It will never,
    Pass into nothingness….”
    The cherry tree is standing about the “Woodland ride” along the riding tract in the woods. It is adorned in white dress, as if it were in preparation for the celebration of Easter. These verses show that passion presents ordinary things in an extra-ordinary way.
    Stanza II

    In these lines the poet openly confesses that he is seventy years old. But at the same time he feels that his love for cherry sprouted in his heart when he was only twenty years old. The poet claims to have enjoyed the beauty of cherry blossom in fifty springs. But it has not exhausted his passion rather he laments over the loss of those twenty years which he has spent without enjoying the beauty of this tree. The line “twenty will not come again” truly reflects the remorseful feelings of the poet. It gives double shade to the poem i.e. ‘pleasure and pathos. But the intensity of poet’s love eclipses all other themes.

    Stanza III
    Although the poet has enjoyed the beauty of the spring, coloured and flavoured by the glory of cherry for fifty long years, yet he feels that even this period is not sufficient to do justice with nature.
    The poet believes that life is too short to relish it. That is why the poet resolves to keep on treading the pastures which lead to the abode of cherry. He still wants to go to the woodland to see the exotic beauty of the cherry tree whose flowery boughs are hanging down with snow.
    To quote Huxley,
    “Nature is never spent;
    There lives the dearest
    Freshness deep down things.”

  8. rajib Bangladesh

    sir how can i get the paraphrase of the poem "THE CHERRY TREE" by A.E. HOUSMAN

  9. Ahmed Saudi Arabia

    The speaker in this poem thinks that life is too short , he will dedicate the rest

  10. anila saqib Pakistan

    english

    nice poem but im confused............poet is 20 years old or he's 50.can anybudy answer this

  11. saadjan Pakistan

    A.E.HOUSMAN claim that because fifty more opportunties to enjoy these lovly threes with their luscious blossoms is not enough,he will go to observe the same trees also in the winter.

  12. Mia Jamaica

    I do not think the poet was admitting that he was seventy, I think he was referring to the Bible when Moses spoke about our life span being three score and ten. I think the writer is only twenty. We should read carefully

  13. anurag Nepal

    how long

    i had thought that the person in this poem has 50 years left to live. Could u pls tell me how long he expected to live.

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