Air Quote by May Sarton
“We saw the strong trees struggle and their plumes do down, The poplar bend and whip back till it split to fall, The elm tear up at the root and topple like a crown, The pine crack at the base - we had to watch them all. The ash, the lovely cedar. We had to watch them fall. They went so softly under the loud flails of air, Before that fury they went down like feathers, With all the hundred springs that flowered in their hair, and all the years, endured in all the weathers - To fall as if they were nothing, as if they were feathers.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, 1970s
Trees fall gently like feathers, symbolizing the quiet, inevitable decline of even the strongest beings under relentless forces.
In simple terms: Even strong things can fall softly.
Key Takeaway
Accept the fragility of strength.
Themes
nature
impermanence
resilience
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- environmental reflection
- grief counseling
- philosophical meditation
- writing prompts
Key Concepts
Entropy
beauty in decay
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the feather imagery change for you?
- How do you reconcile strength with vulnerability?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may romanticize suffering, overlooking harsh realities.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)