--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a willow tree that stands by my…" description: "\"“There's a willow tree that stands by my river She holds me in her arms when I am cold. And we listen to the sounds Of the pebbles on the ground, And I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/douglas-wood-20594_quote_there-s-a-willow-tree-that-stands-by-my_1389933.jpg" --- # There's a willow tree that stands by my river She holds me… ![“There's a willow tree that stands by my river She holds me in her arms when I am cold. And we listen to the sounds Of the pebbles on the ground, And I know what it means to be old.” quote by Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/douglas-wood-20594_quote_there-s-a-willow-tree-that-stands-by-my_1389933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/douglas-wood-20594_quote_there-s-a-willow-tree-that-stands-by-my_1389933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/douglas-wood-20594_quote_there-s-a-willow-tree-that-stands-by-my_1389933.jpg) > ““There's a willow tree that stands by my river She holds me in her arms when I am cold. And we listen to the sounds Of the pebbles on the ground, And I know what it means to be old.”” [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker finds comfort and a sense of aging in a willow tree by a river, using nature as a metaphor for life's later stages. **In simple terms:** A willow by the river offers comfort and symbolizes aging. Key Takeaway Seek solace in nature to reflect on life's phases. Themes nature comfort aging reflection metaphor Mood calm melancholic contemplative Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - walking by water - journaling - grieving Key Concepts poetry personal introspection symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How does nature influence your perception of aging? - What personal symbols bring you comfort? A Different Perspective Nature may not always provide comfort for everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Holds Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holds-arms-1155845/) [Means Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-old-1320254/) [Stands River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stands-river-4839560/) [Willow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willow/) [Willow Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willow-tree-786779/) ## Related quotes > [It were a blessed sight to see That child become a willow tree, His brother trees among. He'd be four times as tall as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-maria-fanshawe/it-were-a-blessed-sight-to-see-that-child-become-a-willow-tree-his/) [Catherine Maria Fanshawe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-maria-fanshawe/) > [The willow tree plays the water like a harp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-n-g-mez-de-la-serna/the-willow-tree-plays-the-water-like-a-harp/) [Ramon Gomez de la Serna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-n-g-mez-de-la-serna/) > [What a pity every child couldn't learn to read under a willow tree...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george-speare/what-a-pity-every-child-couldn-t-learn-to-read-under-a-willow-tree/) [Elizabeth George Speare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george-speare/) > [No matter how far back you cut a willow tree, it will never really die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/no-matter-how-far-back-you-cut-a-willow-tree-it-will-never-really-die/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [A framed photo on a dusty bookshelf caught his attention; he moved closer and picked it up silently. A small girl with long blond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-framed-photo-on-a-dusty-bookshelf-caught-his-attention-he-moved/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He holds you in his arms, to give you strength and comfort when sometimes nights are long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-holds-you-in-his-arms-to-give-you-strength-and-comfort-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A woman's destiny, they say, is not fulfilled until she holds in her arms her own little book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mytinger/a-woman-s-destiny-they-say-is-not-fulfilled-until-she-holds-in-her/) [Caroline Mytinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mytinger/) > [Age to me means nothing. I can't get old; I'm working. I was old when I was twenty-one and out of work. As long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/age-to-me-means-nothing-i-can-t-get-old-i-m-working-i-was-old-when-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He found a new way to cover up his bad breath. He holds up his arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/he-found-a-new-way-to-cover-up-his-bad-breath-he-holds-up-his-arms/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [“A woman should never have a need to fear the man who holds her in his arms; neither his hands that touches her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/a-woman-should-never-have-a-need-to-fear-the-man-who-holds-her-in-his/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [Old enough to kill means old enough to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/old-enough-to-kill-means-old-enough-to-die/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [People are anxious to save up financial means for old age; they should also be anxious to prepare a spiritual means for old age……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/people-are-anxious-to-save-up-financial-means-for-old-age-they-should/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“When Peeta holds out his arms, I walk straight into them. It's the first time since they announced the Quarter Quell that he's offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/when-peeta-holds-out-his-arms-i-walk-straight-into-them-it-s-the/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“It’s not that hard, Jade. You just sway side to side while a hot guy holds you in his arms.” “So we’re not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-everhart/it-s-not-that-hard-jade-you-just-sway-side-to-side-while-a-hot-guy/) [Allie Everhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-everhart/) > [You looove me. (holds out arms) You love me this much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/you-looove-me-holds-out-arms-you-love-me-this-much/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More by Douglas Wood > [Working in Hollywood can be tumultuous, with incredible highs and lows and you need to be grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/working-in-hollywood-can-be-tumultuous-with-incredible-highs-and-lows/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I know a lot of people in the business recommend the many Story Structure seminars being offered here, but I point to them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-the-business-recommend-the-many-story/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [That said, I should also add that I learned a great deal from being allowed in these privileged circles and am grateful for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/that-said-i-should-also-add-that-i-learned-a-great-deal-from-being/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [Robert Altman's 'Nashville' is my all-time favorite film because it covers all the bases - it's original, moving, and has something to say, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/robert-altman-s-nashville-is-my-all-time-favorite-film-because-it/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [Animation scripts tend to be much more descriptive and are lighter on dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/animation-scripts-tend-to-be-much-more-descriptive-and-are-lighter-on/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I'm more concerned with getting them to find and strengthen their original voice as writers rather than imposing my own subjective tastes, judgements or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-m-more-concerned-with-getting-them-to-find-and-strengthen-their/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburb of Evanston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-was-born-in-chicago-and-grew-up-in-the-suburb-of-evanston/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [Dick Van Dyke was my first idol. He's an amazing physical comedian, like a classic clown, but also very smart and not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/dick-van-dyke-was-my-first-idol-he-s-an-amazing-physical-comedian/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [The best way for a beginner to write for animation is to closely watch animated films, then read the screenplays for them afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/the-best-way-for-a-beginner-to-write-for-animation-is-to-closely/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I am a big fan of the TV series 'Taxi' which combined comedy and pathos better than any other show I've seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-am-a-big-fan-of-the-tv-series-taxi-which-combined-comedy-and-pathos/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [All of the material for 'The Fine Line' was created via improvisation with my partner, but not in front of an audience. We'd continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/all-of-the-material-for-the-fine-line-was-created-via-improvisation/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [The major studios don't differ very much from one another as they all operate under essentially the same principles and pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/the-major-studios-don-t-differ-very-much-from-one-another-as-they-all/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [Fear of failure has always been my best motivator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best-motivator/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [“Most prayers are not really questions...and if we listen very closely, a prayer is often its own answer. ...We pray because we are here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/most-prayers-are-not-really-questions-and-if-we-listen-very-closely-a/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I was only in one play at Steppenwolf, in the early days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-was-only-in-one-play-at-steppenwolf-in-the-early-days/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) [Explore all 30 Douglas Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) ## More Willow quotes > [Where shall the lover rest, Whom the fates sever From his true maiden's breast, Parted for ever? Where, through groves deep and high, Sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-shall-the-lover-rest-whom-the-fates-sever-from-his-true-maiden/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Near the lake where drooped the willow, Long time ago!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pope-morris/near-the-lake-where-drooped-the-willow-long-time-ago/) [George Pope Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pope-morris/) > [“Try to think of it as though we are rewriting history––the first time this experience occurred you and I never kissed in this Dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/try-to-think-of-it-as-though-we-are-rewriting-history-the-first-time/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [“My dream is to create something so beautiful that it encourages people to present the best version of themselves to me everywhere I go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/my-dream-is-to-create-something-so-beautiful-that-it-encourages/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [“It's hard to keep something a secret when it's written all over you body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hoban/it-s-hard-to-keep-something-a-secret-when-it-s-written-all-over-you/) [Julia Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hoban/) > [“As her feet beat the concrete ground beneath them, her chest began to ache. It had been a long time since she had run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/as-her-feet-beat-the-concrete-ground-beneath-them-her-chest-began-to/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [The willow turns his back on inclement weather. And if he can do it, we can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/the-willow-turns-his-back-on-inclement-weather-and-if-he-can-do-it-we/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Sweet to me was not the voice of man, But the wind's voice was understood by me. The burdocks and the nettles fed my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/sweet-to-me-was-not-the-voice-of-man-but-the-wind-s-voice-was/) [Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/) > [“Every lineament of the girl's wasted body is a testament to her inner turmoil. Willow can only imagine what kind of pain she must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hoban/every-lineament-of-the-girl-s-wasted-body-is-a-testament-to-her-inner/) [Julia Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hoban/) > [Love is a young green willow shimmering at the bare wood's edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/love-is-a-young-green-willow-shimmering-at-the-bare-wood-s-edge/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [“In one picture, the pool was half hidden by a fringe of mace- weeds, and the dead willow was leaning across it at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-ashton-smith/in-one-picture-the-pool-was-half-hidden-by-a-fringe-of-mace-weeds-and/) [Clark Ashton Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-ashton-smith/) > [“I try to ignore the fact that I can feel Kieren's hard-on against my ass and that it's perfectly pressing into me. I tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-chilson/i-try-to-ignore-the-fact-that-i-can-feel-kieren-s-hard-on-against-my/) [Erica Chilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-chilson/) > [“Willow trees dipped their bare branches into pond water like girls testing the temperature with their toes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/willow-trees-dipped-their-bare-branches-into-pond-water-like-girls/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“Secrets upon secrets were weaving into a strange and mysterious fabric that would ultimately clothe his future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesikah-sundin/secrets-upon-secrets-were-weaving-into-a-strange-and-mysterious/) [Jesikah Sundin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesikah-sundin/) > [The willow submits to the wind and prospers until one day it is many willows - a wall against the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-willow-submits-to-the-wind-and-prospers-until-one-day-it-is-many/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) [Browse all 85 Willow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willow/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There's a willow tree that stands by my river She holds me in her arms when I am cold. 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