"I think that I shall never see a billboard lovely as a tree. Perhaps, unless the billboards fall, I'll never see a tree at all"

Ogden Nash’s witty lines juxtapose the natural beauty of trees with the artificial and intrusive presence of billboards, hinting at the loss of nature in the face of commercialization and urban expansion. By echoing Joyce Kilmer’s famous opening, “I think that I shall never see / A poem lovely as a tree”, Nash introduces an ironic twist, replacing the reverence for trees with a lament about billboards obstructing the view of nature.

The poem invites the reader to consider how human development, represented by billboards, impedes the appreciation of the natural world. Billboards, which serve as symbols of advertising and modern clutter, physically block the sight of trees, turning what should be admired for its inherent loveliness into something visually dominated by consumerism. With a touch of humor and sardonic resignation, Nash highlights a pervasive aspect of contemporary life: the encroachment of commercial interests on the environment. The idea that one might never see a tree at all unless the billboards come down underscores the suffocating abundance of these signs but also subtly critiques society’s priorities.

Moreover, the poem can be read as a commentary on collective values. Trees stand for nature, beauty, and serenity, while billboards suggest distraction, commerce, and artificiality. Nash’s phrasing, “Perhaps, unless the billboards fall, / I’ll never see a tree at all”, expresses a wistful longing for unspoiled landscapes while acknowledging the bleak reality that such vistas are increasingly rare. The clever wordplay and rhythm enhance the poem’s satirical edge, reinforcing the absurdity of preferring advertisements to the wonders of nature. Ultimately, Nash’s couplet warns against allowing progress and profit to overshadow the irreplaceable gifts found in the natural world, urging a reconsideration of what deserves our admiration and protection.