--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great stems rose about me, uplifting a…" description: "\"“Great stems rose about me, uplifting a thick multitudinous roof above me of branches, and twigs, and leaves-- the bird and insect world uplifted over ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/george-macdonald-295_stems_great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-th_997609.png" --- # Great stems rose about me, uplifting a thick multitudinous… ![“Great stems rose about me, uplifting a thick multitudinous roof above me of branches, and twigs, and leaves-- the bird and insect world uplifted over mine, with its own landscapes, its own thickets, and paths, and glades, and dwellings; its own bird-ways and insect-delights. Great boughs crossed…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/george-macdonald-295_stems_great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-th_997609.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/george-macdonald-295_stems_great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-th_997609.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/george-macdonald-295_stems_great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-th_997609.png) > ““Great stems rose about me, uplifting a thick multitudinous roof above me of branches, and twigs, and leaves-- the bird and insect world uplifted over mine, with its own landscapes, its own thickets, and paths, and glades, and dwellings; its own bird-ways and insect-delights. Great boughs crossed my path; great roots based the tree-columns, and mightily clasped the earth, strong to lift and strong to uphold. It seemed an old, old forest, perfect in forest ways and pleasure. And when, in the midst of this ectasy, I remembered that under some close canopy of leaves, by some giant stem, or in some mossy cave, or beside some leafy well, sat the lady of marble, whom my songs had called forth into the outer world, waiting (might it not be?) to meet and thank her deliverer in a twilight which would veil her confusion, the whole night became one dream-realm of joy, the central form of which was everywhere present, although unbeheld. Then, remembering how my songs seemed to have called her form the marble, piercing through the pearly shroud of alabaster -- "Why," thought I, "should not my voice reach her now, through the ebon night that inwraps her." My voice burst into song so spontaneously that it seemed involuntarily:”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A poet envisions an immense, living forest that mirrors his inner spiritual journey, seeking connection with a divine feminine presence through song. **In simple terms:** A vast forest reflects inner spirituality and a longing to reach the divine. Key Takeaway Embrace nature’s depth and let your voice seek the sacred. Themes spirituality nature art longing connection Mood awe contemplative hopeful Type poetic philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Meditation in nature - creative writing - ritual singing - inner reflection - spiritual quest Key Concepts Transcendence symbolism mythic imagery Questions to Reflect On - How does nature inspire your creative expression? - What does the marble lady symbolize for you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too abstract for practical guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Stems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stems/) [Uplifted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uplifted/) ## Related quotes > [Only because uplifted in song, was I able to endure the blaze of the dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/only-because-uplifted-in-song-was-i-able-to-endure-the-blaze-of-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Everything I did to get back, if it wasnt for my team, it was for my city. Thats one thing that I bought into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lewis/everything-i-did-to-get-back-if-it-wasnt-for-my-team-it-was-for-my/) [Ray Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lewis/) > [“A child's dreams should never be discounted, rather uplifted to the stars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-don-brown/a-child-s-dreams-should-never-be-discounted-rather-uplifted-to-the/) [Asa Don Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-don-brown/) > [“If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-things-they-carried-tim-o-brien/if-at-the-end-of-a-war-story-you-feel-uplifted-or-if-you-feel-that/) The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien > [“The air was soft, as it often was in this lovely month, and Eddie inhaled its sweetness. He found himself uplifted as he worked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/the-air-was-soft-as-it-often-was-in-this-lovely-month-and-eddie/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [By unseen hands uplifted in the light Of sunset, yonder solitary cloud Floats, with its white apparel blown abroad, And wafted up to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/by-unseen-hands-uplifted-in-the-light-of-sunset-yonder-solitary-cloud/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [In times of war, starvation, hunger and injustice, such tragedy can only be put aside if you allow yourself to be uplifted through music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/in-times-of-war-starvation-hunger-and-injustice-such-tragedy-can-only/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [One makes a gift of one's life and endeavors by sanctifying it with love, and devotion and selfless service. When seeking to uplift others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hawkins/one-makes-a-gift-of-one-s-life-and-endeavors-by-sanctifying-it-with/) [David Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hawkins/) > [I have loved my work, I have loved people and my play, but always I have been uplifted by the thought that what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/i-have-loved-my-work-i-have-loved-people-and-my-play-but-always-i/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [All day I have been tossed and whirled in a preposterous happiness; was it an elf in the blood? Or a bird in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-day-i-have-been-tossed-and-whirled-in-a-preposterous-happiness/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“She gave me hugs that were like oxygen to a dying man and uplifted my soul!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/she-gave-me-hugs-that-were-like-oxygen-to-a-dying-man-and-uplifted-my/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“You feel uplifted when fall in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/you-feel-uplifted-when-fall-in-love/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [It is the way of youth that each fresh piece of knowledge of life should go to its head, and that once uplifted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/it-is-the-way-of-youth-that-each-fresh-piece-of-knowledge-of-life/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [I shall strike the stars with my uplifted head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/i-shall-strike-the-stars-with-my-uplifted-head/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [I have a passion to make a difference in the world. And that difference can be just making the fans at my show leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/i-have-a-passion-to-make-a-difference-in-the-world-and-that/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Stems quotes > [I have always had a very natural connection to the water, and that connection stems from the ocean itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-peirsol/i-have-always-had-a-very-natural-connection-to-the-water-and-that/) [Aaron Peirsol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-peirsol/) > [My wife thinks I have an obsession with social class. So I guess I have an obsession with social class. It probably stems from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/my-wife-thinks-i-have-an-obsession-with-social-class-so-i-guess-i/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I think we as a band, as individuals, understand that all popular music stems from blues and jazz and even pop, but rock 'n'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-johansen/i-think-we-as-a-band-as-individuals-understand-that-all-popular-music/) [David Johansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-johansen/) > [Sadly, the only constant in my writing environment stems from some inexplicable need to listen to the news. CNN loops over and over in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-weisberger/sadly-the-only-constant-in-my-writing-environment-stems-from-some/) [Lauren Weisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-weisberger/) > [My anxiety stems from my lack of control no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/my-anxiety-stems-from-my-lack-of-control-no-matter-what/) [SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/) > [What we do stems directly from what we believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fenwick/what-we-do-stems-directly-from-what-we-believe/) [Millicent Fenwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fenwick/) > [Morality is always derivative. It stems from one's worldview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/morality-is-always-derivative-it-stems-from-one-s-worldview/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I love sports. When I'm not playing, I'm watching, reading, or otherwise obsessing about them. This probably stems from growing up in Indiana, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waters/i-love-sports-when-i-m-not-playing-i-m-watching-reading-or-otherwise/) [Mark Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waters/) > [The prison industrial complex is perhaps, at least domestically, the most striking example of us putting profit before people. It all stems from one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/the-prison-industrial-complex-is-perhaps-at-least-domestically-the/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [The stems stood tall and straight, one series arranged in a single line, the other in a crudely shaped heart, the final one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lurlene-mcdaniel/the-stems-stood-tall-and-straight-one-series-arranged-in-a-single/) [Lurlene McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lurlene-mcdaniel/) > [The Middle East is ailing. The malady stems from pervasive violence, shortages of food, water and educational opportunities, discrimination against women and - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/the-middle-east-is-ailing-the-malady-stems-from-pervasive-violence/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Much of the misgiving that Muslims feel for the West stems from our strong emphasis on freedom, always a risky enterprise. I've heard some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/much-of-the-misgiving-that-muslims-feel-for-the-west-stems-from-our/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [My entire career stands on the strong pillars of women-oriented films. This stems from the fact that I am sensitive to the entire aura…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhur-bhandarkar/my-entire-career-stands-on-the-strong-pillars-of-women-oriented-films/) [Madhur Bhandarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhur-bhandarkar/) > [Korean cinema is very improvisational, and there is a unique power that stems from this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bae-doona/korean-cinema-is-very-improvisational-and-there-is-a-unique-power/) [Bae Doona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bae-doona/) > [There is a melancholy that stems from greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/there-is-a-melancholy-that-stems-from-greatness/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) [Browse all 34 Stems quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stems/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Great stems rose about me, uplifting a thick multitudinous roof above me of branches, and twigs, and leaves-- the bird and insect world uplifted over mine, with its own landscapes, its own thickets, and paths, and glades, and dwellings; its own bird-ways and insect-delights. Great boughs crossed my path; great roots based the tree-columns, and mightily clasped the earth, strong to lift and strong to uphold. It seemed an old, old forest, perfect in forest ways and pleasure. And when, in the midst of this ectasy, I remembered that under some close canopy of leaves, by some giant stem, or in some mossy cave, or beside some leafy well, sat the lady of marble, whom my songs had called forth into the outer world, waiting (might it not be?) to meet and thank her deliverer in a twilight which would veil her confusion, the whole night became one dream-realm of joy, the central form of which was everywhere present, although unbeheld. Then, remembering how my songs seemed to have called her form the marble, piercing through the pearly shroud of alabaster -- \"Why,\" thought I, \"should not my voice reach her now, through the ebon night that inwraps her.\" My voice burst into song so spontaneously that it seemed involuntarily:”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-thick-multitudinous-roof-above/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Stems" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-thick-multitudinous-roof-above/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/george-macdonald-295_stems_great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-th_997609.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/george-macdonald-295_stems_great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-th_997609.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/george-macdonald-295_stems_great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-th_997609.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Great stems rose about me, uplifting a thick multitudinous roof above me of branches, and twigs, and…” — George MacDonald", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Great stems rose about me, uplifting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-thick-multitudinous-roof-above/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/great-stems-rose-about-me-uplifting-a-thick-multitudinous-roof-above/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```