Trees and Us — Summary

Trees are pictured as shy brides who prefer to change clothes without being seen. In spring, they put on their green clothing at dawn, just before people wake; in autumn, they slip out of those dresses late at night, while everyone is still asleep. The speaker seems gently amused and a little admiring of this modesty. By repeating the timing—before we awake, while we are still asleep—the poem creates a quiet, secretive mood. The changes of the seasons feel less like grand events and more like private rituals happening just out of sight. We are always nearby but never quite present for the moment. There is a tender wonder in that: the trees have their own shy, orderly life, and they do not need an audience. The tone stays calm and intimate, like a small observation shared in a low voice.