Evening Rose

ALTHOUGH JOYCE KILMER’S POEM “Trees” isn’t recognized as great art, its sentimental value is unquestioned by millions of Americans. The final line, “But only God can make a tree,” remains a hallmark of the poet’s devotion that resonates among the faithful. Those old enough will remember learning it in grade school in honor of Arbor Day each June, and they will also remember hearing the inimitable Kate Smith’s rendition of the poem set to music.

       H. Hargrove, at the time, was living life as young Nicolo Sturiano in Marsala, Italy, but he needed no primer to learn the concept of God’s being the primo artist of the world. “It is impossible to duplicate, much less create, anything to match nature’s magnificence,” he says. “All an artist can do is imitate it.”