Chapter 2: Cherry Tree

ICE BREAKERS [PAGE 65]

Ice Breakers | Q 1 | Page 65
Trees are revered because :
a. They give us joy.
b. _________________
c. _________________
d. _________________
e. _________________

SOLUTION
a. They give us joy.
b. They give us shade.
c. They give us fruit.
d. They give us flowers.
e. They give us oxygen.

Ice Breakers | Q 2 | Page 65

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.

A B
1. You planted a sapling. a. Gave you a feeling of joy to see the promising
future.
2. You watered the plant. b. The new experience brought excitement to you.
3. You saw the shoot for the c. You were happy and satisfied because you
first time. experienced what you had often heard, that a
small beginning can lead to great achievements.
4. You fenced the plant. d. The colour, symbolizing life, gave you a feeling
of hope.
5. The plant gradually saw e. You wanted to make a humble beginning.
lush green leaves grow on
it.
6. The tree had buds too. f. Your motive was to protect it.
7. Birds made a nest on the g. You cared for it.
tree which was fully grown
and laden with flowers.
SOLUTION

A B
 1. You planted a sapling. e. You wanted to make a humble beginning.
2. You watered the plant. g. You cared for it.
3. You saw the shoot for the b. The new experience brought excitement to
first time. you.
4. You fenced the plant. f. Your motive was to protect it.
5. The plant gradually saw d. The colour, symbolizing life, gave you a
lush green leaves grow on feeling of hope.
it.
6. The tree had buds too. a. Gave you a feeling of joy to see the promising
future.
7. Birds made a nest on the c. You were happy and satisfied because you
tree which was fully grown experienced what you had often heard, that a
and laden with flowers. small beginning can lead to great
achievements.

BRAINSTORMING [PAGES 68 - 70]

Brainstorming | Q (A1) (i) (a) | Page 68
Find proof from the poem for the following.
The poet has mentioned different seasons.

SOLUTION
a. The line “And suddenly that summer near the end of May,” mentions the summer
season.
b. The line “Split it apart and a monsoon blight” mentions the monsoon season.
c. The line “Next spring I watched three new shoots grow,” mentions the spring.
d. 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.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (i) (b) | Page 68
Find proof from the poem for the following.
The poet’s minute observations of the steady growth of the cherry tree.
SOLUTION
a. The poet saw that the 'cherry tree had grown six feet high'.
b. The poet was surprised to find 'a berry hanging from one of the tree's branches,
ripened and shining like a jewel'.
c. The following year, the poet notices 'small pink-coloured blossoms on the tree,
that was fragile and looked like they easily fall'.
 d. 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.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (i) (c) | Page 68
Find proof from the poem for the following.
The colour imagery in the poem.

SOLUTION
a. The poet refers to the cherry tree as 'dark'.
b. He describes the blossoms as 'pink'.
c. The sky has been described as 'blue'.
d. 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.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (i) (d) | Page 68
Find proof from the poem for the following.
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.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (ii) (a) | Page 68
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.
1. True
2. False
SOLUTION
The cherry tree did not take long to grow - False.
Explanation:
The cherry tree took a long time to grow – eight years in all.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (ii) (b) | Page 68
State whether the following statement is True or False. Correct the false
statement by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
Birds and insects were benefitted from the tree.
1. True
2. False

SOLUTION
Birds and insects were benefitted from the tree - True.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (ii) (c) | Page 68
State whether the following statement is True or False. Correct the false
statement by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
The poet was exalted at the sight of the cherry tree.
1. True
2. False

SOLUTION
The poet was exalted at the sight of the cherry tree - True.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (ii) (d) | Page 68
State whether the following statement is True or False. Correct the false
statement by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
The poem has an underlying message about the importance of trees.
1. True
2. False
SOLUTION
The poem has an underlying message about the importance of trees - True.
Brainstorming | Q (A1) (ii) (e) | Page 68
State whether the following statement is True or False. Correct the false
statement by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
The poet repents planting the cherry tree.
1. True
2. False

SOLUTION
The poet repents planting the cherry tree - False.
Explanation:
The poet feels richer in seeing the cherry tree that he planted and praises it.
Brainstorming | Q (A2) (i) (a) | Page 68
Discuss in groups, reasons/ consequences/ effects:
The life of the cherry tree was threatened.
SOLUTION

a. Reasons:
The life of the cherry tree was threatened by the goats, the grass-cutter's scythe,
and the fungal diseases during monsoon.
b. Consequences:
Its leaves were eaten, it split up and its slender stem shrivelled up.
c. Effects: The little plant almost died.

Brainstorming | Q (A2) (i) (b) | Page 68

Discuss in groups, reasons/ consequences/ effects:
The cherry blossomed.
SOLUTION
a. Reasons:
The cherry blossomed in due time and also because of the rain.
b. Consequences:
It grew into a big tree with flowers and fruits and filled the poet with joy.
c. Effects:
The tree attracted and became a home for the birds and insects.

Brainstorming | Q (A2) (ii) | Page 68

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.
Brainstorming | Q (A3) | Page 68
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:

i. “…in the grass”

ii. “… that summer near the end of May”
iii. “I found a tree…”
iv. “…tall grass running wild”
v. “…ate the leaves…”
vi. “…slender stem…”
vii. “…light and air and sun”
viii. “…and the rain…”
ix. “…richer by a cherry tree…”
x. “…my own dark cherry…”
xi. “…-a berry.”
xii. “Ripened and jeweled in the sun,”
xiii. “…blossoms small…”
xiv. “Pink, fragile, quick to fall”
xv. …sleepiest breeze”
xvi. “…on the grass…”
xvii. “…through the leaves at the blue Blind sky and the finches as they flew”
xviii. “…dappled green…”
xix. “…bees in an ecstasy drank…”
xx. “Of nectar from each bloom and the sun sank”
xxi. “Swiftly, and the stars turned in the sky,”
xxii. “…moon-moths and singing crickets…”
xxiii. “…Night and Stars and tree:”
xxiv. “That small, the cherry…”

Brainstorming | Q (A4) (ii) | Page 68

Find out examples from the poem.
Alliteration

SOLUTION
 1. ''Spent a season in Kashmir''
2. "Came back thinner, rather poor,
But richer by a cherry tree at my door.''
3. "And I could scarcely believe it-a a berry."

Brainstorming | Q (A4) (ii) | Page 68

Find out examples from the poem.
Antithesis

SOLUTION
"It was very small, five months child,
Lost in the tall grass running wild."
Brainstorming | Q (A4) (ii) | Page 68
Find out examples from the poem.
Personification

SOLUTION

1. "Pink, fragile, quick to fall

At the merest breath, the sleepiest breeze..."
2. "And moon-moths and singing crickets and I—
Yes, I! — praised Night and Stars and tree:"

Brainstorming | Q (A5) (i) (a) | Page 69

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.”
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (i) (b) | Page 69
The cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are
given below. Justify them with proper examples.
Different places are mentioned.
SOLUTION
There are different places mentioned in the poem, like Kashmir, home (“at my door”).
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (i) (c) | Page 69
The cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are
given below. Justify them with proper examples.
Characters are referred to.

SOLUTION
The cherry tree, the poet himself, and elements of nature – animals, birds, insects have
been referred to.
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (i) (d) | Page 69
The cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are
given below. Justify them with proper examples.
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.
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (i) (e) | Page 69
The cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are
given below. Justify them with proper examples.

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.
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (i) (f) | Page 69
The cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are
given below. Justify them with proper examples.
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.
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (ii) | Page 69
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.
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (iii) | Page 69
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 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.
Brainstorming | Q (A5) (iv) | Page 70
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.
Brainstorming | Q (A6) (i) | Page 70
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
Brainstorming | Q (A6) (ii) | Page 70
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.
Brainstorming | Q (A6) (iii) | Page 70
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.
Brainstorming | Q (A7) | Page 70
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.