Gary Snyder’s Pine Tree Tops relates to nature, the senses and the ecosystem. Some examples are the images of the blue night, the icy mist and the glow of the moon in the first verse. The second gives a symbolic color scheme as the poem increases in intensity; for example: double blue snow, frost and starlight. The third continues with a sudden disturbance of nature with the interference of human boots, which generate footprints with rabbit and deer tracks. These perceptions also appeal to the senses and are reminiscent of Christmas. Also, short lines impact the poetic flow and make the poem divisible. Finally, the poem ends with a rhetorical point of interpretation.
First, the poem appeals to the senses with sensory details in various ways, such as seeing colors and hearing the crunch of boots. It also lets you smell of pine and feel the moisture of frost against your skin. Finally, and most likely, the images focus on venison tasting the fresh prize of a deer hunting trip in the woods.
This poem then relates to Christmas in several ways. The most significant is a person looking for a pine tree to use as a Christmas tree. Being out in the woods clarifies this image of disturbing the ecosystem. The tops of the pines are related to the top of a Christmas tree; a pinnacle on top with starlit frost on the sides.
Third, the topography of the short lines moves the poem faster as it is read. Unlike other poems written with long, measured lines, this one is short, ends quickly, and moves on to the corresponding line more quickly. However, this could be a hindrance for one who runs through the poem, as opposed to a poet who is cautious and more observant while reading with a connotative interpretation of each word rather than just a denotative one.
The poem is written in three stanzas of three lines each. One could divide the poem into three unrhymed stanzas of haiku poetry. The traditional haiku has seventeen syllables; however, a contemporary haiku has fewer than seventeen syllables than the three haikus in this poem. Also, the traditional haiku poem has a kigo word that relates to nature or the seasons of the year. Furthermore, when the nine lines are divided into three lines each, one will find a seasonal word of nature in each of the three haikus. For example, in the first haiku there is freezing mist. The second haiku with three lines has glitter; starlight The third haiku has tracks of rabbits and deer that are evident in the snow in winter.
Finally, the poem ends with a rhetorical question in the form of a declarative statement about the reader’s knowledge. This leaves the poem open for a reader’s interpretation. Obviously, there is no clear answer in this scenario, which makes the poem very interesting to read and contemplate regarding the author’s intent.
