The speaker sees trees as a formal, almost comic procession—“a solemn and impressive band”—wearing leafy hats like decorations on admirals and diplomats. There is real affection in the description, but also a sly wink. For all that grandeur, the trees have a very plain job: filling people with oxygen, and the speaker calls those people “as dumb as they,” lumping humans and trees together as equally unimpressive underneath. The phrase “pump the world with air” deflates the pomp entirely. The mood is light and ironic, not mean-spirited. By the end, the joke circles back: yes, trees may look like dignitaries, but their diplomacy is just standing there breathing. It is a cheerful reminder that impressive appearances often hide very ordinary work.
The Green and Leafy Trees, They Stand — Summary
A solemn and impressive band, With decorations in their hats Like admirals and diplomats ; And yet, their job is filling men As dumb as they, with oxygen — For all the splendid pomp they wear. They do but pump the world with air. Proving, that trees, beneath their hats, Are admirals and diplomats.