Ruskin Bond's 'The Cherry Tree': Analysis and Themes

Appreciation of the Poem ‘The Cherry Tree’

Poem, Poet, and Title

The poem ‘Cherry Tree’ is composed by the well-known Indian English poet Ruskin Bond. The title clearly indicates that the poem pertains to a cherry tree.

The poet had a desire to plant and nurture his own tree. Despite many threats and obstacles, the tree grew into a full-blossomed tree after a wait of eight years. The poet emphasizes the strong inner instinct of the cherry tree to survive and grow on its own.

Important Themes in the Poem

‘The Cherry Tree’ deals with the themes of struggle, resilience, and persistence against all adversities. It serves as a symbol of survival. The poem clearly emphasizes the importance of these qualities in human life. The bond between the poet and the cherry tree is one of care and nurture. He plays the role of a guardian, and at the end, he feels the same pride a parent feels for their child.

Poet's Opinion

I like the poem for its positive, optimistic tone. The poet has also created a beautiful picture of the cherry tree through the use of figurative language.

Figures of Speech

• Climax: "Pink, fragile, quick to fall." Here, words or phrases are arranged in ascending order of intensity or importance.
• Alliteration:
  1. "Shrivelled the slender stem." The sound of 's' is repeated.
  2. "The sun sank." The sound of 's' is repeated.
• Personification:
  • "Five-month-old child."
  • "The young tree struggle upward thrust." (In both places, the tree is given human qualities.)
• Onomatopoeia: "I hear the bright bee hum." The poet uses the word 'hum,' which indicates the sound made by the bee. This is an example of Onomatopoeia.

Appreciation of the Poem ‘There Is Another Sky’

Title, Poem, Poet (Introduction)

The American poet Emily Dickinson wrote the poem ‘There is another sky.’ It is an inspirational poem where she comforts her brother during a time of despair. The poet is communicating directly to her younger brother, Austin, perhaps through a letter. In the first line of ‘There is Another Sky,’ the speaker begins by using the line that later became the title. Dickinson’s poems are usually known by their first line.