OPTION 1/Literary Analysis of WWI.

Mar 27, 1912, The first cherry blossom trees, a gift from Japan, were planted in Washington, D.C. First Lady Helen Herron Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted two Yoshina cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac Tidal Basin, near the Jefferson Memorial. The event was held in celebration of a gift, by the Japanese government, of 3,020 trees to the US government for planting along Washington's Potomac River.

I chose this event because it seemed to me that this gift was almost a olive branch to the U.S. with which Japan wanted to be not just at peace with the U.S.A. but to be great allies for an immense amount of time. Which is almost a joke to think that just 29 years later we would attack them in self defense in World War II.

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

I chose this poem to go with this event because for the obvious it’s about cherry trees and the event has Japan’s ambassador’s wife giving First Lady Helen Herron Taft cherry trees. But if you were to give the poem a few more intersecting looks you would see that it is telling that life is to short and you should enjoy the little things now I mention this because our peace with Japan was short and we didn’t appreciate the little things like before I ever looked up nation to nation gifts you wouldn’t have ever seen this. For example “Now, of my threescore years and ten, Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score, It only leaves me fifty more.” It shows that our time with Japan was precious and should have been appreciated to its fullest potential and maybe then the bombing 29 years later wouldn’t have happened. This line “Is hung with bloom along the bough, “ Is showing how with the gift of cherry trees shows how our relationship with Japan blossomed from this very moment. “Bloom along the bough” Could also be symbolizing the almost Olive branch diminishing any tensions before with the U.S.A and Japan.