Question

“forest trees”
by edna st. vincent millay
monarchs of long forgotten realms, ye stand;
majestic, grand:
unscared by time’s destructive hand.
enthroned on dais of velvet moss, inset
with the royal purple of the violet;
and crowned with mistletoe.

how many ages o’er your head have flown,
to you is known—
to you, ye forest - founders of the past, alone.
10 no other eyes may scan the breadth of years,
each with its share of peace, and joy, and tears;
of happiness and woe.

around you all is changed—and where now is land
swft vessels ploughed to foam the seething main;
15 kingdoms have risen; and the fire - fiend’s hand
has crushed them to their mother earth again;
and through it all ye stand, and still will stand
till ages yet to come have owned your reign.

what can the reader infer about the speaker’s opinion of the forest trees?
the speaker respects the longevity of the forest trees.
the speaker appreciates the forest trees for the protection they provide.
the speaker is interested in studying the biology of the forest trees.
the speaker hopes to use the forest trees to build something great.

Explanation:

To determine the speaker's opinion, analyze the poem:

• Lines like "Unscared by Time’s destructive hand", "How many ages o’er your head have flown", and "And through it all ye stand, and still will stand / Till ages yet to come have owned your reign" emphasize the trees' long - lasting nature (longevity).
• The option about protection has no textual support (no mention of the trees providing protection).
• The option about studying biology is incorrect as the poem is not about scientific study of trees.
• The option about using trees to build is also incorrect as the poem focuses on their endurance, not their use as a building material.

Answer:

The speaker respects the longevity of the forest trees.