Communication Quote by Carol Goodman
““You told me trees could speak and the only reason one heard silence in the forest was that they had all been born knowing different languages. That night I went into the forest to bury dictionaries under roots, so many books in so many tongues as to insure speech. and now this very moment, the forest seems alive with whispers and murmurs and rumblings of sound wind-rushed into my ears. I do not speak any language that crosses the silence around me but how soothing to know that the yearning and grasping embodied in trees’ convoluted and startling shapes is finally being fulfilled in their wind shouts to each other. Yet we who both speak English and have since we were born are moving ever farther apart even as branch tips touch.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, by Carol Goodman, 2023
The quote reflects on the loss of shared language and connection, using trees as a metaphor for diverse, silent communication that humans increasingly miss despite physical proximity.
In simple terms: Trees symbolize unheard languages and growing distance between people.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and bridge the gaps in communication.
Themes
communication
language
isolation
nature
connection
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
hopeful
Type
poetic
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- environmental activism
- literary analysis
- personal reflection
- cross‑cultural dialogue
- education
Key Concepts
metaphor
silence
diversity
alienation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we create shared meaning across different cultures?
- What does “silence” mean in our relationships?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may romanticize nature and overlook practical ways to improve human dialogue.
