A Murmur in the Trees to Note
poem 416
A Murmur in the Trees to note Not loud enough for Wind A Star not far enough to seek Nor near enough to find A long long Yellow on the Lawn A Hubbub as of feet Not audible as Ours to Us But dapperer More Sweet A Hurrying Home of little Men To Houses unperceived All this and more if I should tell Would never be believed Of Robins in the Trundle bed How many I espy Whose Nightgowns could not hide the Wings Although I heard them try But then I promised ne’er to tell How could I break My Word? So go your Way and I’ll go Mine No fear you’ll miss the Road.
A Murmur in the Trees to Note - meaning Summary
Secret Observations of Nature
The poem presents a speaker who notices tiny, elusive happenings in nature—soft murmurs in trees, distant stars, yellow light on the lawn, and busy small birds—then frames these observations as almost secret, half-imagined phenomena that others would not believe. The voice balances wonder and reticence: vivid sensory detail gives way to a pledge of silence, turning perception into a private treasure. The effect is intimate and whimsical, emphasizing personal, interior engagement with the natural world and the speaker’s choice to keep certain perceptions to herself.
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