A Murmur in the Trees—to note— Themes

A Murmur in the Trees—to note— Themes

The Hidden World

Among the various images in this poem are birds sleeping in human-like beds, a hurried march of tiny men, and the half-heard sound of voices from those unseen. This is a trek through the real world that we all know which is shared with strange and bizarre creatures that we do not see. The specific imagery is metaphorical. The hidden world around us is not really occupied by magical creatures, but it is filled with wonders that go unseen. The message of this theme is that one should take the time to pay closer attention to the world around us and begin noticing the little miracles of nature which we typically don't notice.

Individualism

The final lines of the poem serve to situate its theme as a celebration of individualism and non-conformity. The speaker urges readers to "go Your way" while insisting she will "go Mine." It is important to note that the speaker is specifically not urging readers to follow the road she goes down. Nor is she suggesting that the road on which readers go their own way is the wrong direction or wrong path simply because it is not the same as hers. The poem is urging readers to find their own path and, if they pay attention, they will discover their own hidden magic on the way.

Retaining Innocence

After describing the strange magic hidden in the real world, the speaker asserts that she will not divulge their location to anyone else. She also admits to knowing full well that even if she were ever to tell others about these creatures she would not be believed. The implicit suggestion being made here is that telling others about one's belief in the invisible and unproven can either be shared as a religion or make one an outcast suspected of being delusional. In order to retain a sense of innocence it is necessary to keep believing in magic. This belief must be tempered by the understanding that society expects you to stop believing in such things once you become an adult.

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