Humor as Sexy as a Tree
Happy Arbor Day!
I’ll admit that before I looked up Joyce Kilmer’s Trees, I only knew the first two lines of the poem. And I had those lines wrong.
(It’s not “A poem as lovely as a tree.” It’s just “A poem lovely as a tree.)
Another surprise—Joyce Kilmer was a he, not a she.
And third, and most importantly,
My inner teenager whooped with glee
When I saw “breast” (and “bosom”) in Tree.
You say that’s immature? Well I agree!
Inks by Dick Giordano from the story Heartbreaker in FIRST KISS #12, 1960.
Transcript:
SCENE: A man and a woman are apparently resting after picnicking. The woman is seated on the grass with back against a large rock. The man has his head leaned back in her lap. In the background is a tree.
CAPTION: “I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
”A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast”
Wait!
Breasts? Oh, gee!
Between you and me,
Now I’m thinking of something
I’d rather see
Besides a tree!
1960 Art: Dick Giordano Color: Allen Freeman
First Four Lines: From “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
Everything Else: John Lustig
12.3.4.4
CAPTION: “I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
”A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast”
Wait!
Breasts? Oh, gee!
Between you and me,
Now I’m thinking of something
I’d rather see
Besides a tree!
1960 Art: Dick Giordano Color: Allen Freeman
First Four Lines: From “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
Everything Else: John Lustig
12.3.4.4
