Cherry Tree by Ruskin Bond. Class XI English
1. About the Poem, Poet, and Title:
The Renowned writer Ruskin Bond’s poem "Cherry
Tree" is a poetic masterpiece. Ruskin Bond is known for his reminiscent
descriptions of nature in his stories, novels and poems. He has beautifully
captured the essence of a cherry tree with its life cycle in this poem. The
title itself is self-explanatory. It hints that the central focus of the poem
is on the cherry tree along with the beauty of nature .
2. Theme/Summary/Gist of the Poem:
Even though, the nature of life is very transient, the
surrounding nature makes life stronger and fit to survive. The theme of
"Cherry Tree" revolves around this transient nature of life and its
survival in nature. The poem also depicts the profound beauty found in the
cycles of nature. The poem follows the journey of a cherry tree, from its
dormant state in winter to its vibrant blossoming in spring. Thus, the poem is
the journey of the tree's transformation from a seed to blossoming tree in
eight years of course of time through vivid imagery.
3 Poetic Style/Language, Poetic Devices:
Ruskin Bond's poetic style successfully carves the
picture of "Cherry Tree" with simplicity and elegance. The effortless
use of language paints the journey of cherry tree with vivid pictures.
Various poetic devices are used in the poem.
Alliteration:
“Its arms in a fresh fierce lust” -/f/ sound is
repeated.
“Made a miracle from green growing” -/m/ and /g/ sounds are
repeated.
“Shrivelled the slender stem….” /s/ sound is repeated.
Antithesis:
“It was very small, five months child Lost in the tall
grass running wild.” – small and tall these opposite ideas are used in the
lines.
Personification:
“A Tree had come to stay” -A tree is given the
human quality of ‘coming’ and ‘staying.’
Metaphor:
Ripened and jeweled in the sun'- the cherry fruit looks
like a jewel.
These literary techniques enhance the reader's
experience and evoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature.
4 Special Features/Novelties/Focusing Elements:
There are various notable features of "Cherry
Tree".
A. The skillful use of vivid descriptions
of the nature that transport the reader to the scene.
B. The poet has successfully captured the
tree's transformation through the seasons.
C. Poet has painted the strive of the tree
for existence.
D. Due to the emotions weaved by poet the
readers get connected on a deeper level.
5 Message/Value/Morals in the Poem:
The poem highlights the transitory nature of life. The
tree could have lost its life any moment. In the same way in our life too, we
have many moments where we can lose our life. The way the cherry tree came out
safely from every difficult situation we in our life too, need to cherish every
moment as our life is momentary. Secondly, poet has urged us to appreciate the
beauty and wonder of the natural world, as well as the fleeting joys and
experiences that make up our lives. Thirdly, the poet seems to describe growing
of a child metaphorically. The way the Cherry Tree stems out of a seed and
struggles to grow, the new born baby after its birth struggles to grow in
different phases of life. The life of a child is also surrounded by bad elements
and difficulties in our life like the tree is surrounded by weed and various
difficulties such as scythe.
6 Your Opinion about the Poem:
In my opinion, "Cherry Tree" is a captivating
poem that effortlessly combines Ruskin Bond's love for nature with his poetic
prowess. The seamless flow of the language and the vivid imagery transport
readers into the world of the cherry tree, allowing them to experience its
transformation firsthand. The poem's gentle yet profound message resonates
deeply, encouraging us to pause and appreciate the beauty around us. Through
its simplicity and elegance, "Cherry Tree" showcases the power of
poetry to evoke emotions and inspire a deeper connection with nature
©Dr Rahul Laxman Khillare
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