James Merill's "Christmas Tree" James merill seems to have a theme with mortality as he struggles with AIDS, this poem as well as Sawfish reflect that inner struggle. “Yes, yes, what lay ahead was clear: the stripping, the cold street, my chemicals plowed back into the earth for lives to come–.” While the poem is clearly about a Christmas tree's life– the shape of the poem as well as the title being the most telling factors of this- this excerpt of the poem could also be compared to any living thing that dies. Especially someone dealing with illness and visiting doctors a lot “chemicals, the stripping” reminding me of prescribed medicines, blood being drawn, changing into a gown waiting to be seen by the doctor.