Section Two- Poetry
2.1 Cherry Tree
Synopsis:
The poem Cherry Tree is about the ecstasy of the poet over a plant which he has seeded eight years ago. It took eight years to grow. In the poem, Bond expresses his wonder at the ways of nature and how it takes care of itself to survive against all odds. Eight year ago, the poet planted a cherry seed because he wanted to have a plant of his own. The young poet watered it daily but was unaware of the fact that cherry plant needs other special care too to grow into a healthy tree. In spite of getting any special attention, by the end of May, the poet saw the small cherry sapling coming out of the ground. It was a very small plant, young and fragile, vulnerable to all kinds of external dangers. Tall wild grasses grew all around it and ‘the goats’ ate its ‘leaves’ and then one day the grass cutter’s blade mercilessly ‘split it apart’. Its tender stem also bravely fought the heavy monsoon and even after all these, the poet saw new shoots growing out of it as the young tree made its struggle against nature to survive and fiercely made an ‘upward thrust’ to get ‘light and air and sun’.
The poet could now just wait and watch while he took pleasure on seeing his small cherry plant blossoming into a tree as ‘Time and the rain’ nourished it and like a miracle the tree grew, too stubborn to give up. Then it was time for the poet to bid adieu to his beloved tree as he went to Kashmir to spend a season there. The poet returned after a few months poor in health and heart but was overjoyed to find a ‘six feet high’ dark cherry tree at his doorstep. To his disbelief, he saw a small berry fruit hanging from a branch, ‘Hung from a branch—just one! a small little pink and fragile berry that could fall at the single stir of wind.
In his ecstasy, the poet “lay on the grass” whole day at leisure to look up to the cherry tree as the “finches” flew past and birds flocked in and out of the tree and the bees drank nectar from each ‘bloom’. Soon it was dark and stars lit the whole night sky and the ‘moon-moths’ and crickets sang. As the poet enjoyed the rapture of nature and felt himself akin with it, he marveled at his own creation, the small cherry plant that has grown into a big tree over the span of eight years. In the ending couplet, the poet associates himself with the nature and creator, as he takes pride for being part of it. Cherry Tree is therefore, the poet’s rumination about the ways of nature as it participates in the process of creation. It is the struggle of each living object to fight and survive despite all odds.
Vocabulary-
scythe – a tool with a long curved blade at right angle to a long handle used to cut long grass and grain.
blight – a plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts
shrivelled – dried or wrinkled or shrunken due to lack of moisture
slender – thin, struggle – making forceful against odds
thrust – to push with sudden impulse or force
fierce – aggressive
lust – strong desire
miracle – a welcoming or happy event developing by chance that cannot be explained with reason or science
scarcely – almost not
ripended (ripen)– become or make ripe
jeweled – adorned with jewels
blossoms – flowers that bloom on trees
fragile – weak
finches – a small passerine bird
flitted – pass lightly, softly or rapidly
dappled – marked with rounded dark patches
ecstasy – a feeling of greatest happiness
nector – a sweet fluid secreted by flowers
moon-moths – a large pale long green moth
crickets – an insect, characteristic for its musical chirping sound.
Ice Breakers:-
Activity- Trees are revered because:-
a) They give us joy.
b) They give us oxygen, food, wood, flowers, cotton and shelter.
c) They keep balance of the environment.
d) They give us shadow.
e) They prevent soil erosion, flood and landslide.
f) They bring rainfall.
Activity- Column A shows your involvement in growing a tree, as well as the stages in the life of a tree. Column B shows the feelings you experience at all the stages. Match them appropriately.
Answer
Activity- The thought which prompted the poet to plant the cherry seed-
1) ---------------
Answer-
1) To have his own plant
2) --------------- 3) --------------- 4) --------------- were a threat.
Answer-
2) Goats
3) Grass cutter
4) Monsoon (heavy rains) which caused a plant disease.
Activity- State whether the following statements are true or false:
1. They destroyed the Cherry tree.
Answer- False
Nobody destroyed the cherry tree. It grew very well.
2. The Cherry tree had an instinct to survive.
Answer- True
Activity- True or false
The blossoms are fragile----------- (True/ false)
Answer- True
Activity- Complete the statements
1) The poet felt richer because---------------
Answer- he had a cherry tree at his door.
2) The beneficiaries of the cherry tree are---------------
Answer- bees, moon – moths, crickets and the poet.
Brainstorming
(A1) (i) Find proof from the poem for the following.
(a) The poet has mentioned different seasons.
Answer-Summer:- And suddenly that summer near the end of May.
Monsoon:- Split it apart and a monsoon blight.
Spring:- Next spring I watched three new shoots grow.
(b) The poet’s minute observations of the steady growth of the cherry tree.
Answer-The steady growth of the cherry tree shown in these following lines.
I found a tree had come to stay.
It was very small, five months child,
Lost in the tall grass running wild.
(c) The colour imagery in the poem.
Answer- Colour imagery in the poem:-
Green growing pain (Dappled green),
blossom small pink,
blue blind sky
(d) The struggle of the cherry tree for survival.
Answer- The struggle of the cherry tree for survival has shown in the following lines-
The young tree struggle, upward thrust
Its arms in a fresh fierce lust
For light and air and sun.
(A1) (ii) State whether the following statements are True or False. Correct the false statements by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
(a) The cherry tree did not take long to grow.
Answer- False
The cherry tree took eight years long to grow.
(b) Birds and insects were benefitted from the tree.
Answer-True
(c) The poet was exalted at the sight of the cherry tree.
Answer-True
(d) The poem has an underlying message about the importance of trees.
Answer-True
(e) The poet repents planting the cherry tree.
Answer-False
The poet praised planting the cherry tree.
(A2) (i) Discuss in groups, reasons/ consequences/ effects:
(a) The life of the cherry tree was threatened.
Answer- The life of the cherry tree was threatened because of goats grazing, grass cutters and monsoon. The cherry tree has no leaves and stem. It gets dried. But as the spring arrives, new shoots grow. The young tree struggles for light, air and sun.
(b) The cherry blossomed.
Answer- Initially the cherry tree bore just one berry. It was not so good. But the next year the tree was blossomed. The poet, bees, moon - moths and crickets were much excited. They became the beneficiary of it.
(ii) A small thought, put in action, led to a great achievement. Pick out the lines from the beginning and end of the poem and explain their significance.
Line- Eight years have passed since I placed my cherry seed in the grass.
This is the normal work that the poet did.
Line- It was very small, five months child.
The tree survived and showed growth struggling in the adverse situations.
Line- Next spring I watched three new shots grow.
The progress of the tree continues
Line- But richer by a cherry tree at my door.
Glorifies the importance of the tree considering himself rich due to tree.
Line- That small, the cherry, grown by me.
Great achievement as the tree survived and stayed.
(A3) The cherry tree has inspired the poet to compose the poem. Such poems, describing Nature or aspects of Nature are called ‘Nature poems’. Find out some expressions from the poem that bring out the elements of beauty of Nature.
Answer- In the poem the following references show the elements of beauty of Nature-
1) Next spring I watched three new shoots grow.
2) Made a miracle from green growing pain.
3) But richer by a cherry tree at my door
4) Ripened and jeweled in the sun.
5) And next year there were blossoms small pink, fragile, quick to fall.
6) While bees in an ecstasy drank --------in the sky.
(A4) (i) Read the line.
Pink, fragile, quick to fall
Notice the arrangement of the words in the line:
They move from healthy to delicate
This figure of speech is called Climax where successive words, phrases, sentences are arranged in ascending order of importance. Here, the cherry blossom turns pink, ripens and is ready to be picked.
(ii) Find out examples from the poem.
Alliteration :
1. Its arms in a fresh fierce lust. : A consonantal sound 'f' is repeated pleasingly.
2. Made a miracle from green growing pain. : A consonantal sound 'g' is repeated rhythmically.
Antithesis :
1. but cherries have a way of growing,
Though no one's caring very much or knowing. : Opposite idea of growing without caring is seen in the line.
Personification :
1. A Tree had come to stay : A tree has attributed human quality of coming and staying.
2. Its arms in a fresh fierce lust : A tree is described as having arms like human beings.
(A5) (i) Cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are given below. Justify them with proper examples.
Answer-
a) The poem has a beginning, a middle and an end - It begins with a planting of a cherry seed. It survives overcoming adversities and at the end blossoms.
b) Different places are mentioned- The poet’s residence and Kashmir.
c) Characters are referred to - The poet, grass cutters, bees, cricket and moon moths are the characters referred to in the poem.
d) Incidents are arranged in sequence- The activities and growth of the tree are given in a sequence.
e) There is a dialogue between the poet and the reader or the characters of the poem.- “ Must have a tree of my own,” I said.
I found a tree that had come to stay.
Next spring I watched three new shoots grow.
Yes, I! – praised Night and Stars and tree:
f) It is a time-bound poem. It deals with a particular time of the year and showed different changes in atmosphere and the tree.
(ii) Compose 8 to 10 line. Narrate any incident in your life without using any rhyming pattern.
Answer:-
I decided to plant a tree.
But it was not easy to do it.
I didn’t have a place to plant.
I was lining in a flat.
It had no courtyard.
So I bought plastic trees.
They had no need to give water and soil
But it also didn’t have any life and growth.
(iii) Write an appreciation of the poem considering the following points.
About the poem, poet and title.
The poem deals with the poet’s feeling of great joy over a tree which he planted and took eight years to grow.
The poet Ruskin Bond belongs to India. He considered himself richer having a cherry tree at his door. He felt proud for planting his own tree.
Title of the poem is related to the central character i.e. cherry tree whose journey from planting to upward growth to blossomed tree is given.
Theme / Summary/ Gist of the poem.
It has the theme of struggle, resilience, dedication, conflict, growth, responsibility and pride.
The poem depicts a small of action of planting a cherry tree which led to a great achievement giving benefit to bees, moon-moths, cricket and the poet.
.
2.1 Cherry Tree
Trees are revered because :
They give us joy.
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Solution
They give us joy.
They give us shade.
They give us fruit.
They give us flowers.
They give us oxygen.
Column A shows your involvement in growing a tree, as well as the stages in the life of a tree. Column B shows the feelings you experience at all stages. Match them appropriately.
Solution
Find proof from the poem for the following.
The poet has mentioned different seasons.
Solution
The line “And suddenly that summer near the end of May,” mentions the summer season.
The line “Split it apart and a monsoon blight” mentions the monsoon season.
The line “Next spring I watched three new shoots grow,” mentions the spring.
The line “Who watched, wandering, while Time and the rain” mentions the monsoon season.
Thus, it can be concluded that the poet has mentioned different seasons.
The poet’s minute observations of the steady growth of the cherry tree.
Solution
The poet saw that the 'cherry tree had grown six feet high'.
The poet was surprised to find 'a berry hanging from one of the tree's branches, ripened and shining like a jewel'.
The following year, the poet notices 'small pink-coloured blossoms on the tree, that was fragile and looked like they easily fall'.
He observed how the cherry tree was benefitting the finches with its leaves, the bees with the nectar from its flowers, and providing a resting place to the moon-moths and the crickets at night and praised it.
It can thus be proved that the poet made minute observations of the steady growth of the tree.
The colour imagery in the poem.
Solution
The poet refers to the cherry tree as 'dark'.
He describes the blossoms as 'pink'.
The sky has been described as 'blue'.
The use of the words 'dappled green' to describe the leaves of the cherry tree.
The use of different colours to describe the different elements in the extract proves that the poet has used colour imagery in the poem.
The struggle of the cherry tree for survival.
Solution
The pink blossoms that grew on the cherry tree were fragile and seemed like they would fall at the lightest breath or the slightest breeze. However, the blossoms don't fall off. In fact, they even provide nectar to the bees. This instance proves the struggle of the cherry tree for survival.
State whether the following statement is True or False. Correct the false statement by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
The cherry tree did not take long to grow.
Solution
Options
True
False
The cherry tree did not take long to grow - False.
Explanation:
The cherry tree took a long time to grow – eight years in all.
Birds and insects were benefitted from the tree.
Solution
Options
True
False
The poet was exalted at the sight of the cherry tree.
Solution
True
False
The poem has an underlying message about the importance of trees.
Solution
True
False
The poet repents planting the cherry tree.
Solution
Options
True
False
The poet repents planting the cherry tree - False.
Explanation:
The poet feels richer in seeing the cherry tree that he planted and praises it.
Discuss in groups, reasons/ consequences/ effects:
The life of the cherry tree was threatened.
Solution
Reasons:
The life of the cherry tree was threatened by the goats, the grass-cutter's scythe, and the fungal diseases during monsoon.
Consequences:
Its leaves were eaten, it split up and its slender stem shrivelled up.
Effects: The little plant almost died.
The cherry blossomed.
Solution
Reasons:
The cherry blossomed in due time and also because of the rain.
Consequences:
It grew into a big tree with flowers and fruits and filled the poet with joy.
Effects:
The tree attracted and became a home for the birds and insects.
A small thought, put in action, led to a great achievement. Pick out the lines from the beginning and end of the poem and explain their significance.
Solution
"Must have a tree of my own,” I said.”
The above line from the beginning of the poem merely highlights a small thought of a little child; which he put into action. An optimistic thought leads to action and finally to a positive outcome. This fact should be kept in mind and followed in real life.
“Yes, I! – praised Night and Stars and tree: That small, the cherry, grown by me.”
The last line towards the end of the poem highlights the feeling of pride that the poet experiences because of his small act of planting the seed all those years ago. His joy knows no bounds when he looks at the outcome of his action – his cherry tree in full bloom. Similarly, we should take responsibility for our thoughts, actions, and outcomes in our lives. We should feel proud of our achievements and make room for more positivity all around us.
The cherry tree has inspired the poet to compose the poem. Such poems, describing Nature or aspects of Nature are called ‘Nature poems’. Find out some expressions from the poem that bring out the elements of the beauty of Nature.
Solution
Some expressions from the poem that bring out the elements of the beauty of Nature are as follows:
“…in the grass”
“… that summer near the end of May”
“I found a tree…”
“…tall grass running wild”
“…ate the leaves…”
“…slender stem…”
“…light and air and sun”
“…and the rain…”
“…richer by a cherry tree…”
“…my own dark cherry…”
“…-a berry.”
“Ripened and jeweled in the sun,”
“…blossoms small…”
“Pink, fragile, quick to fall”
…sleepiest breeze”
“…on the grass…”
“…through the leaves at the blue Blind sky and the finches as they flew”
“…dappled green…”
“…bees in an ecstasy drank…”
“Of nectar from each bloom and the sun sank”
“Swiftly, and the stars turned in the sky,”
“…moon-moths and singing crickets…”
“…Night and Stars and tree:”
“That small, the cherry…”
Find out examples from the poem.
Alliteration
Solution
''Spent a season in Kashmir''
"Came back thinner, rather poor,
But richer by a cherry tree at my door.''
"And I could scarcely believe it-a a berry."
Antithesis
Solution
"It was very small, five months child,
Lost in the tall grass running wild."
Personification
Solution
"Pink, fragile, quick to fall
At the merest breath, the sleepiest breeze..."
"And moon-moths and singing crickets and I—
Yes, I! — praised Night and Stars and tree:"
The cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are given below. Justify them with proper examples.
The poem has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Solution
The poem has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Beginning: The poem begins with the planting of a cherry seed by the poet. “Eight years have passed Since I placed my cherry seed in the grass.”
Middle: The mid part of the poem talks about the growth of the seed into a full-grown tree. “Six feet high my own dark cherry,”
End: The poem ends on a happy note with the tree in full bloom and the poet being glad about it. “That small, the cherry, grown by me.”
Different places are mentioned.
Solution
There are different places mentioned in the poem, like Kashmir, home (“at my door”).
Characters are referred to.
Solution
The cherry tree, the poet himself, and elements of nature – animals, birds, insects have been referred to.
Incidents are arranged in sequence.
Solution
“Since I placed my cherry seed in the grass.”
“It was very small, five months child,”
“The young tree struggle, upward thrust”
“Time and the rain Made a miracle from green growing pain……..”
“Six feet high my own dark cherry”
“-a berry. Ripened and jewelled in the sun”
“And next year there were blossoms small”
“That small, the cherry, grown by me.”
The above lines from the poem prove that the incidents are arranged in sequence as the poem is tracking the growth of the cherry tree.
There is a dialogue between the poet and the reader or the characters of the poem.
Solution
“Must have a tree of my own,” I said,
“I could only wait, as one”
“I went away next year
spent a season in Kashmir-”
“And moon-moths and singing crickets and I Yes, I!”
The above lines justify the fact that the poet is directly talking to the readers through this poem, thus framing a dialogue.
It is a time-bound poem.
Solution
“Eight years have passed”
“I went away next year”
“And next year there were blossoms”
The word 'year(s)' mentioned in the above lines from the poem makes it evident that the poem is time-bound. Also, the whole process of a seed growing into a tree is certain to be time-bound.
Compose 8 to 10 lines. Narrate an incident in your life without using any rhyming pattern.
Solution
A Walk
I went on a solitary walk,
Along the beautiful lake.
Saw a bunch of swans swimming across;
White on glassy blue.
I exclaimed in wonder, “What a sight to behold!”
The trees aplenty and the sky above
Made my heart sing
Stood there for quite some time,
Admiring nature's beauty.
Came back I, a soul enriched.
Write an appreciation of the poem considering the following points :
About the poem, poet, and title.
Theme/summary/gist of the poem.
Poetic style/language, poetic devices used in the poem.
Special features/novelties/focusing elements.
Message/values/morals in the poem.
Your opinion about the poem.
Solution
Appreciation of the poem 'The Cherry Tree'
The poem 'Cherry Tree' is written by Ruskin Bond.
The title itself suggests that the poem pertains to a cherry tree. It is a Nature poem as it has elements of nature in it.
The poem vividly describes the planting of a cherry seed by the poet and how against all odds, the little plant continues to grow. The poem highlights the tree's strong instinct to survive. The plant finally transforms into a six feet high tree with flowers on it. It is a mesmerising sight to behold. The poet is overjoyed when he sees it. He glorifies one little ripened cherry hanging from the tree's branches. He is in awe of the beauty and wonders of nature. The poet refers to the blue sky, birds, insects, and also the starry night sky in this context and how each one of them; including the poet, complements the cherry tree.
The style/language used in the poem is simple and lucid. Poetic devices like Alliteration, Anti-climax, Antithesis, Climax, Consonance, Metaphor, Personification, and Repetition have been used to make the poem alluring to the readers and to set the overall mood of the poem. An example of Personification from the poem is "And moon-moths and singing crickets and I"- where the crickets have been given the animate quality of being able to sing. Vivid imagery has been used by the poet to make the whole process of a seed turning into a plant appealing to the readers. The poet has focused on the wonders of nature by making use of natural elements like the various seasons, the sky, animals, birds, and insects.
The underlying message of the poem is to plant trees and reap joy from them. It also highlights the importance of trees in our surroundings. Overall, I think that the poem is a good read. It is quite appealing as it portrays a detailed and colourful picture before our eyes of a little plant growing into a blooming tree; overcoming hardships that lay in its path.
Write a summary of the poem using the following points.
Title
Introductory paragraph (about the poem, type, Nature, tone)
Main body (central idea, the gist of the poem)
Conclusion (opinion, views, appeal)
Solution
"Cherry Tree"
- by Ruskin Bond
The poem talks about nature; thus it falls under the category of Nature poetry. The tone is that of optimism – the poet focuses on the growing aspect of nature; how the cherry plant struggles to survive. It is realistic in nature as it describes the everyday struggle of a plant to mature into a blooming tree.
The poem is about the poet's pure joy over a cherry seed, which he plants with the intention of having a tree of his own. It takes eight years for the plant to grow into a blossoming tree. He describes the seasons that the tree lives through to eventually grow and bloom. The plant sees the light of the day in the month of May. Goats, scythe, and the harsh monsoon weather; all harm the plant but it strives to grow against all odds. In spring, new shoots grow and they reach upwards for more sunlight, air, and water. The poet patiently waits as time and the rains do their part to help the plant grow.
Meanwhile, the poet leaves for Kashmir to stay there for a while and returns in a poor state, but he still considers himself rich because now he has a full-grown cherry tree by his house. He notices a berry hanging from one of its branches, like a jewel shining in the sun, and feels ecstatic. A year passes by and the poet watches the tree in full bloom. He talks about the pink flowers; which are fragile and seem like they would quickly fall at the slightest breeze. One day, the poet lies on the grass and describes nature in full swing – the sky, finches, bees, crickets, and the blooming cherry tree. The moon-moths, the singing crickets, the night, the stars, the tree as well as the poet appreciate the beauty of the cherry. The sight of the cherry tree gives him immense joy and he feels glad for having planted it all those years ago.
Overall, the poem gives an underlying message about the tree‟s resilience and its determination to grow despite all odds. In the same way, humans too can overcome the obstacles that they face in life and become resilient like the cherry tree.
Write the poem ‘Cherry Tree’ in the form of a story.
Solution
One fine day, eight years ago, the writer thought to himself that he should have a tree of his own. He didn't waste any time and went to put his thought into action. He planted a cherry seed and religiously watered it once every day. He didn't know much about the ways of taking care of a plant.
It was around May, during the summer when the little plant showed up. It was just five months old. Sadly, it wasn't quite ready for the wraths of nature that almost killed him. The goat ate away its little leaves, the fungal disease dried up its slender stem and even the man-made grass cutter split it apart without any second thought. The poor little plant didn't lose hope and stood strong with a wish to survive. Over the period of a season, during spring, it finally reached up for the sun and light, its small arms stretched in the air. The writer saw it and his happiness knew no bounds, but he knew in his heart that he had to wait patiently for the plant to grow into a tree. He went to Kashmir to spend a season there, leaving the plant at nature's mercy.
When the writer returned home in poor health, he saw the cherry tree at his door and couldn't help but feel at the top of the world. He noticed a small ripened berry that hung from one of the branches. It glistened like a jewel in the sun. The writer was overjoyed.
Time flew by and the next year, the tree had pink flowers on all its branches. They were fragile and fell down at the slightest breeze or movement, but the sight was simply beautiful. The writer lay down in its shade one morning and kept gazing for long. He could see the blue sky in patches in between the green canopy of the tree. He watched the birds flitting past, the bees buzzing and busy collecting nectar from each bloom. The day turned into night, with the writer enjoying the wonders of nature around him. The moon moths and the crickets joined his company under the starry night sky. And at this precise moment, the writer couldn't help but bask in the reflected glory of his sole cherry tree
Write in 100 words what the cherry tree in the poem symbolises.
Solution
The cherry tree in the poem is symbolic of human life. It highlights the hardships that one has to face and overcome in order to live life to the fullest. It sends out a loud and clear message of „survival of the fittest‟. It is nature‟s law that only the best can survive and not losing hope is the first step towards it. Determination and time is an answer to everything in this world. The cherry plant took its own sweet time to bloom; but it finally did, it didn't disappoint the poet by giving up when it was facing the wraths of nature. We should take lessons from this cherry tree and learn to survive against all odds.
You have studied the lesson 'The Call of the Soil' from prose 1.3. Compare 'Cherry Tree' with 'The Call of the Soil' and find out the element of the joy of nurturing for the author and the poet.
Solution
The author of 'The Call of the Soil' and the poet of 'Cherry Tree', both share a love for nature. The former chooses farming over worldly pleasures and the latter derives pleasure in planting a tree; which he could call his own. Both Venkat Iyer and Ruskin Bond find joy in nurturing – Iyer is bent on using traditional methods to grow his 'desi' crops in order to nurture the soil and bring a balance in nature, while Ruskin Bond spends eight years of his life in nurturing and lovingly growing a cherry tree by his house. It can be concluded that both, the author and the poet, have a green thumb.
Refer to the library and collect at least five poems of any Nature poet. Write the poems along with their summary.
Solution
Do it Yourself.
