Joyce Kilmer

Joyce Kilmer (December 6, 1886-July 30, 1918), was an American poet; his best-known work is "Trees." The poem is notable for its anthropomorphism. The tree in the poem presses its mouth to the earth's breast and looks at God and raises its leafy arms to pray. The poem was given a musical setting that was quite popular in the 1940s and 1950s.

Kilmer was killed in action by a sniper during World War I and is buried in the Oise-Aisne Cemetery[?], Fere-en-Tardenois, France.

External Links

• Text of the poem: "Trees" (http://cs.alfred.edu/~lansdoct/poems/trees)

e-texts of some collections of Joyce Kilmer's works:

• Main Street And Other Poems (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=1236)
• Trees And Other Poems (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2257)