There Was a Cherry-Tree - Read by FS
There Was a Cherry-Tree - Read by FS

There Was a Cherry-Tree

A short reading of James Whitcomb Riley’s "There Was a Cherry-Tree" presents a gentle meditation on childhood, nature and gratitude. The calm delivery and vivid imagery offer a brief, nostalgic pause in the day.

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1:16•20 May 2012

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There Was a Cherry-Tree

James Whitcomb Riley

LibriVox volunteers bring you 18 recordings of There Was a Cherry-Tree by James Whitcomb Riley. This was the Weekly Poetry project for May 13, 2012. Riley began his career writing verses as a sign maker and submitting poetry to newspapers. Thanks in part to an endorsement from poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, he eventually earned successive jobs at Indiana newspaper publishers during the latter 1870s. Riley gradually rose in prominence during the 1880s through his poetry reading tours. He traveled a touring circuit first in the Midwest, and then nationally, holding shows and making joint appearances on stage with other famous talents. Regularly struggling with his alcohol addiction, Riley never married or had children, and was involved in a scandal in 1888 when he became too drunk to perform. He became more popular in spite of the bad press he received, and as a result extricated himself from poorly negotiated contracts that limited his earnings; he quickly became very wealthy. (Summary from Wikipedia)

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Episodes: 36

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Childhood Blossoms and Blue Jays: A Gentle Reading of "There Was a Cherry-Tree"

Episode Overview

Highlights James Whitcomb Riley’s poem "There Was a Cherry-Tree" in a simple, unhurried reading.
Paints vivid images of white blossom, a blue jay, and crimson cherries tied to childhood memory.
Focuses on themes of innocence, joy and the lasting power of early experiences.
Uses gentle, calm delivery that allows space for reflection and emotional pause.
Ends on a note of gratitude and quiet joy for small, meaningful moments in life.

“"There was a cherry tree. Give thanks and joy. There was a bloom of snow. There was a boy."”

What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This short literary episode offers something a bit different: a gentle pause in the day with a classic poem, "There Was a Cherry-Tree" by James Whitcomb Riley, read aloud by FS. Instead of analysis or conversation, you get a simple, soothing reading. The style is calm and reflective, making it easy to sit back, close your eyes, and let the images roll through your mind.

The poem itself circles around a single memory: "There was a cherry tree. Its bloomy snows cool even now, the fevered sight that knows no more its airy visions of pure joy, as when you were a boy." It’s all about childhood, innocence and the small, perfect details that stay with you for life.

You’ll hear about the white blossom "bloom of snow", the "blue jay sat, his blue against its white", and the cherries that ripen into "a crimson fruitage far too sweet but for a boy to eat." The language is vivid but gentle, like someone quietly sharing a favourite memory. FS keeps the focus firmly on Riley’s words, giving them space to breathe without distraction.

For anyone on a recovery journey, this kind of brief, focused listening might work as a tiny reset – a reminder that the mind can still hold simple, peaceful pictures from another time. The poem ends with a note of gratitude: "There was a cherry tree. Give thanks and joy." It’s a small poem, but it leaves a surprisingly warm afterglow.

If you’re in the mood for something short, calming and nostalgic that doesn’t ask anything of you except a few minutes of attention, this reading might be exactly the break you need today.