<P> Mother and I agreed, when we talked about it, that Dad never meant his poem to apply to one particular tree, or to the trees of any special region . Just any trees or all trees that might be rained on or snowed on, and that would be suitable nesting places for robins . I guess they'd have to have upward - reaching branches, too, for the line about' lifting leafy arms to pray .' Rule out weeping willows . </P> <P> According to Kenton Kilmer, the upstairs room in which the poem was written looked down the hill over the family's "well - wooded lawn" that contained "trees of many kinds, from mature trees to thin saplings: oaks, maples, black and white birches, and I do not know what else ." A published interview with Joyce Kilmer in 1915 mentioned the poet's large woodpile at the family's Mahwah home: </P> <P> while Kilmer might be widely known for his affection for trees, his affection was certainly not sentimental--the most distinguished feature of Kilmer's property was a colossal woodpile outside his home . The house stood in the middle of a forest and what lawn it possessed was obtained only after Kilmer had spent months of weekend toil in chopping down trees, pulling up stumps, and splitting logs . Kilmer's neighbors had difficulty in believing that a man who could do that could also be a poet . </P> <P> I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree . A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain . Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree . </P>

Who speaks in the poem song by james joyce