Lyric Poem · Nature

The Trees like Tassels—hit—and swung

by Emily Dickinson

The Trees like Tassels — hit — and swung —

There seemed to rise a Tune

From Miniature Creatures

Accompanying the Sun —

Far Psalteries of Summer —

Enamoring the Ear

They never yet did satisfy —

Remotest — when most fair

The Sun shone whole at intervals —

Then Half — then utter hid —

As if Himself were optional

And had Estates of Cloud

Sufficient to enfold Him

Eternally from view —

Except it were a whim of His

To let the Orchards grow —

A Bird sat careless on the fence —

One gossipped in the Lane

On silver matters charmed a Snake

Just winding round a Stone —

Bright Flowers slit a Calyx

And soared upon a Stem

Like Hindered Flags — Sweet hoisted —

With Spices — in the Hem —

'Twas more — I cannot mention —

How mean — to those that see —

Vandyke's Delineation

Of Nature's — Summer Day!

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“The Trees like Tassels—hit—and swung” by Emily Dickinson — quilloak.com/poems/the-trees-like-tassels-hit-and-swung

Quick facts

Poem: The Trees like Tassels—hit—and swung
Poet: Emily Dickinson
Length: 28 lines
Form: Lyric Poem
Themes: Nature, Summer

Craft notes

How this poem works

Measured from the text on this page, not copied from a summary. Counts are approximate: syllables and rhymes come from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, which models General American English, so dialect, older pronunciation, and performance can all change what you hear.

Shape: 28 lines · 7 quatrains
End rhyme: No regular perfect end rhyme. The poem may still be using slant rhyme, assonance, or internal echo, which this check does not score.
Line length: Lines run 6-8 syllables (median 7). No single length dominates, which is normal once elision and contraction are in play.

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Text, source & rights

A traceable edition

Full-text display is based on the committed source record and a United States term-expiry review.

Author record: Emily Dickinson1830–1886
Source record: PoetryDBThe Trees like Tassels—hit—and swung by emily-dickinson, PoetryDB transcription
Display decision: Full text · United States · reviewed 2026-07-18
Publication record: Not recorded in the imported source
Text fingerprint: SHA-256 f66cdf6e82c4a8a6…
Editorial handling: Whitespace and stanza breaks normalized for web display; no material wording change recorded.

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Lyric Poem Nature Summer

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