Time is everywhere in this poem—from the first stanza's references to blooming cherry trees and Eastertide, to the second stanza's discussion of youth and old age, to the speaker's comments in the final stanza about how he just doesn't have enough time to do everything he wants. "Loveliest of Trees" is obsessed with defining the time of year (late spring) but also with the passage of time and the changes it brings (winter becomes spring, youth passes into old age). Although time passes, and things change, this isn't good or bad. It just… is.
Questions About Time
- Why is the speaker so obsessed with time?
- What is the effect of all the numbers in this poem?
- Why does the speaker insist on getting all mathematical in the second stanza? Why can't he just say he's 20 and only has 50 years left?
- Is the speaker ridiculous for acting like 50 years isn't enough time to do everything he wants to do? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Time waits for nobody. Yep, that's the best way to sum up "Loveliest of Trees."
Even though 70 years seems like a long time, it's actually not nearly enough time to do and see everything life has to offer. Bummer.