The poem The Problem of Describing Trees begins with the speaker attempting to describe trees. He simply classifies tree's appearances and movement with adjectives like "glitters" and "flutters". However, early in the poem the speaker begins to get confused and unsure of how to describe trees. He contradicts and second-guesses himself. When he first says "No." is when the poem really turns from talking about the certainty to the uncertainty. By the last line "Aspens doing something in the wind", Hass has completely given up his attempt to put trees into words.
What is the difference between an author and a speaker? Remember words mean things. Sometimes.
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