There Was a Cherry-Tree - Read by GC

There Was a Cherry-Tree - Read by GC

What can we learn from those small, shining moments that stay with us for life? This short poetry reading of James Whitcomb Riley's **"There Was a Cherry-Tree"**, read by GC, offers a gentle pause in the day for anyone who enjoys reflective, comforting words. Drawn from a LibriVox Weekly Poetry project, the episode centres entirely on Riley’s poem, repeating the simple refrain, *"There was a cherry-tree"*.

Each time, that line opens into a fresh image: white "bloomy snows", a blue-jay "blue as jet", and a boy tasting fruit that feels "far too sweet but for a boy to eat". The language is straightforward yet vivid, almost like leafing through an old childhood photograph. You’ll hear images of cool shade, bright blossoms, and the striking contrast of the blue-jay against the tree’s white, all gradually ripening into "crimson fruitage".

The poem quietly tracks the passage from childlike wonder to adult memory, holding on to that sense of awe through repetition and rhythm. The style of the reading is simple and uncluttered, with the focus kept firmly on the words on the page.

It’s the kind of piece that suits anyone looking for a brief, calm moment, perhaps as a reminder of how small, sensory memories – a tree, a bird, a taste of fruit – can stay vivid long after childhood. For those who enjoy poetry, classic literature, or just a few minutes of gentle reflection, this reading offers a soft, nostalgic snapshot: "There was a bloom of snow. There was a boy.

There was a blue-jay of the realest blue, and fruit for both of you." If you’re in the mood for something short, soothing and quietly evocative, this might be exactly the pause you’re looking for today.