Symbol Analysis
"Loveliest of Trees" is a poem about blooming cherry trees, and it is thus also a poem about springtime. The reference to "Eastertide" leaves no doubt that this is a poem about the season between winter and summer, and hence about the themes of death and rebirth. Springtime is when all the death and coldness of winter give way to new shoots and warmer weather. The poem's seasonal emphasis suggests that the speaker, too, is experiencing his own rebirth. In particular, he has an eye-opening experience that gives him a new, fresh perspective on life.
- Lines 1-2: The cherry tree is blooming, so it has to be late spring. The "bloom" here symbolizes life and rebirth and suggests that perhaps the speaker is in the midst of his own rebirth—at least as far as his outlook on life goes.
- Lines 3-4: The alliteration here really makes these lines stand out. The personified cherry tree is wearing white in celebration of the post-Easter season. The word "Eastertide" makes us think of Jesus and thus symbolizes both death and resurrection.
- Line 7: "Spring" is here a synechdoche and stands in for the word "years." The speaker describes the remaining years of his life in terms of "springs" in order to suggest that every year should bring about a chance for newness and rebirth.
- Lines 9-10: Here we are again with the synechdoche ("Fifty spring" = fifty years). The speaker likely acts like 50 years is not enough time, though. This implies that the natural beauty of the world is a vast, inexhaustible trove of beauties, but also serves to motivates him (if he tells himself 50 years isn't enough time, he will be more proactive in making sure he accomplishes as much as possible).
- Lines 11-12: Earlier in the poem the cherry tree was "hung with bloom," but now it is "hung with snow." This is very strange, and it sounds like the imagery of spring and winter are mixing together. While snow can be a metaphorical way to describe the color of the cherry blossoms, the word also suggests that winter (death) is never too far from spring (rebirth).