All That to Describe A Tree.

Yeah, it does seem like a lot of thought...just to describe the movement of a tree.

But Robert Hass has a goal that is larger than simply adequately describing the motions of a tree in the wind. In "The Problem of Describing Trees," Hass argues that many times, in poetry (and in literature in general), language often falls short of perfectly depicting an occurring action. Sometimes, however, this is not necessarily a bad thing, according to Hass. Perhaps he believes that it is this "disenchanting" language that allows us to be impressed by poetry. It is figurations like these that keep the reader interested and provide them with a connection to the poem, even if there might be some exaggerations.

So yeah, it is a lot to think about, just from trying to describe a tree. But he conveys a powerful message, one that was powerfully illustrated by that very tree.