Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (2024)

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Famous Inspirational Poem

Douglas Malloch (1877-1938), known as the "Lumbermen's Poet," compares good men to good timber in this famous metaphorical poem. The message of this poem is that people, like trees, grow and reach their true potential by overcoming adversity. It is only through struggles, like a tree fighting through forest growth to reach the sun, that we grow and discover our true potential. Malloch lived in Michigan where he grew up amongst logging camps and lumber yards. He wrote his first published poem when he was still a boy; it was published in the Detroit News.

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Poetry is a passionate way of expressing our innermost thoughts, emotions, spirit, and love, amongst other things. As I read this poem, I thought of a very humble gentleman who lost his...

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Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (1) By Douglas Mallochmore Douglas Malloch

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

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  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (2)
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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!

  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (4) by CL
  • 11 months ago

Our son memorized this poem for an annual gathering of friends where they all recite it. Today we heard his five-year-old son say it almost perfectly from memory, with his father's phrasing and intonation: it was unforgettable.

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  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (5) by Josefina Eyveth Romero
  • 2 years ago

Poetry is a passionate way of expressing our innermost thoughts, emotions, spirit, and love, amongst other things. As I read this poem, I thought of a very humble gentleman who lost his beloved wife to cancer. It made me envision him as the tree where good timber grows. Men like him are hard to find and indeed, like good timber, have withstood the test in the most difficult of life circ*mstances. He shares his story of loving her to the very end and so is the tree that loves the good earth to be able to produce good timber.

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  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (6) by Judy Mitchel
  • 3 years ago

My husband was a logger most of his younger life, then a lumber man, selling lumber for the last. He passed on Christmas 2019. He was also a poet. He would have loved this.

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  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (7) by Nora
  • 3 years ago

My brother, Mando, died of liver cancer on May 15, 2020. This poem is an accurate description of his character.

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  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (8) by Rachel
  • 3 years ago

My father, John, died of Covid on April 23, 2020. He will be buried on May 12. This poem will be read at his graveside.

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  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (9) by Connie Dye
  • 4 years ago

In life we are given trials. We can either be stricken down by them or strong and grow because of them. If we look to our Savior and KNOW that He knows us and He has felt all of the trials in our lives, we can lean on Him and trust Him. He will help us grow.

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  • Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (10) by Kumari Weerasooriya
  • 4 years ago

This is a poem that addresses the law of nature. No one can go against it. The poet has used metaphorical language to depict the similarities between man and other creations of nature. Nature is the supreme power which decides man's destiny.

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Good Timber By Douglas Malloch, Famous Inspirational Poem (2024)

FAQs

What is the central idea of the poem good timber answer? ›

Answer: The message of this poem is that people, like trees, grow and reach their true potential by overcoming adversity. It is only through struggles, like a tree fighting through forest growth to reach the sun, that we grow and discover our true potential.

What is the poem good timber about explanation? ›

In 'Good Timber' Malloch explores themes of struggle, fulfillment, and nature. Those who live through “broken branches” and storms will become “Good timber.” This theme is common within Malloch's work.

What is the significance of the title of the poem good timber questions? ›

The title signifies that the way a tree grow and develops its branches and form good timber in the same way a human being grow with his hard work and reaches its goal by overcoming all the difficulties coming in its path.

What are the famous poem of Douglas Malloch? ›

He is noted for writing Round River Drive and "Be the Best of Whatever You Are" in addition to many other creations. He was commissioned to write the Michigan State Song.

What is the central main idea in a poem? ›

A poem's core concept is the subject of the poem, or 'what it's about' if you like. While many shy away from poetry being 'about' something, at the end of the day, as it was written, the poet had something in mind, and that something, whatever it was or may have been, is the central concept.

How can you relate the poem good timber? ›

By sun and cold, by rain and snow, In trees and men good timbers grow. That verse taught me that we must stand upright through pain and suffering and embrace adversity as an opportunity to learn and grow. Like a tree, we strengthen our resilience by 'growing' through what we are 'going' through.

Why does the poet suggest people to be like good timber? ›

The poet is emphasizing the value of perseverance, resilience, and personal growth in the face of adversity. By comparing people to good timber, the poet is urging individuals to view challenges as opportunities for growth and development, ultimately shaping them into stronger, more capable individuals.

What is the quote on good timber? ›

Good timber does not grow with ease: The stronger wind, the stronger trees; The further sky, the greater length; The more the storm, the more the strength.

What is the mood of the poem good timber? ›

Answer: TONE - serious yet optimistic, hopeful and encouraging. The speaker emphasizes that struggles and challenges are essential to man's life to develop and grow.

What is the alliteration in good timber? ›

Alliteration is an interesting formal device that can be sen through the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of multiple words. For example, “broken branches” in stanza four and “storm” and “strength” in stanza three. Enjambment is also an important technique to take note of in 'Good Timber'.

What is the stanza 1 of the good timber poem? ›

STANZA#01 The tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light, But stood out in the open plain And always got its share of rain, Never became a forest king But lived and died a scrubby thing.

Where thickest lies the forest growth? ›

Where thickest lies the forest growth, We find the patriarchs of both. Of many winds and much of strife. This is the common law of life.

Why is Douglas Malloch important? ›

He was known as a "Lumberman's poet" both locally and nationally. He is noted for writing Round River Drive and "Be the Best of Whatever You Are" in addition to many other creations. He was commissioned to write new lyrics for the Michigan State Song, Michigan, My Michigan in 1902.

What is the meaning of be the best by Douglas Malloch? ›

In the poem Be the Best of Whatever You Are by Douglas Malloch, the poet continuosly tells us to be the best in whatever we can be. We must never be ashamed of what we are, as no job is less or small. In this world every job have equal importance for the people. Wonder a world where there were only doctors!

When did Douglas Malloch write good timber? ›

Good Timber - Douglas Malloch, 1922.

What is the literal meaning of the poem the trees? ›

This poem presents a conflict between men and nature. The poetess suggests here that the trees and plants used in the interior decoration in cities are as imprisoned. They need freedom. These trees want to move out to the forest where trees decreasing day by day due to cutting.

What does the poem the trees teach us? ›

The poem 'The Trees' by Adrienne Rich shows the conflict between man and nature. The poet wants to give the message that the presence if a few trees inside our home does nig become equal to nature. It is a very false idea of nature. Real nature is outside, in the forests we have destroyed.

What is the meaning of the poem trees? ›

"Trees" celebrates the majesty of nature, insisting that no art that humankind makes can match even the simple beauty of a tree. The poem can thus be read as a hymn of praise to God's creation, celebrating both the wonder of the natural world and its maker.

What is the summary of the poem good timber Class 11? ›

The poem begins with the speaker comparing the tree that “never ” had to fight for space , air , or nutrients to the one that knows this struggle and has become stronger because of it . The former never become a “ forest king ” and instead died “ a scrubbything” .

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