Ruskin Bond: Born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, in1934, Ruskin Bond has composed many short stories, essays, novellas, and over thirty books for kids. His most memorable novel, ‘The Room on the Roof’, composed when he was seventeen got the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in1957. He has likewise distributed two volumes of self-portrayal, ‘Scenes from a Writer’s Life’ and ‘The Lamp is Lit,’ an assortment of expositions and episodes from his diary. In 1992 he got the Sahitya Akademi Award for English writing in India. He was granted the Padmashri in 1999. Ruskin Bond lives with his embraced family in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.
The sonnet, “Cherry Tree” is about the writer’s happiness over a tree that he established which required eight years to develop. He is communicating his marvel at the methods of Nature and how the cherry blooms rush to fall. The tree gives him monstrous bliss as he can see the stars and the blue sky through dappled green trees.
The poem Cherry Tree is about the ecstasy of the poet over a plant which he has seeded eight years ago.It was a seed of cherry tree which took eight years to grow. In the poem, Ruskin Bond expresses his wonder at the nature works hard to survive in difficult conditions against all odds.Eight years ago, the poet planted a cherry seed because he wanted to have a plant of his own. The young poet used to water it daily but he was unaware of the fact that cherry plant needs extra special care to grow into a healthy tree. Inspite 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.
The Seed
Rakesh, the protagonist, digs the ground with a spade and plants a seed of a cherry tree his grandfather’s garden in Mussoorie. The plant is in the corner of the garden protected from wind and snow. However, soon Rakesh forgets about the seed and gets busy listening to his grandfather’s stories and reading newspapers for him.
The Twig
Meanwhile, the seed continues to grow. Winter passes and spring arrives. One day, Rakesh is observing the bird when he suddenly notices the plant which has grown into a twig with one or two leaves. He realizes the cherry that he had planted a year ago.
Rakesh shows his grandfather the cherry twig. Grandfather advises Rakesh to take care of the plant now and water it Rakesh also circles the plant with some pebbles for protection.
Now, Rakesh’s interest is stoked. Every morning he observes the plant’s growth but is left disappointed with its slow rate.
The Plant
Now the monsoon season approaches and the cherry plant grows faster and it makes Rakesh excited. The following summer Rakesh goes home to his parents. He works on his farm and helps his parents in sowing and planting crops.
By the end of the monsoon, he is back with his grandfather. He has grown up and so has his cherry tree. It has come up to his chest. Rakesh is getting more attached to his tree now and waters it every day.
Once Rakesh witnesses an insect on the tree but he doesn’t try and swat it away as he considered it the tree’s first friend. Next, he sees a hairy caterpillar feeding on the leaves of the tree. Rakesh hauls it and places it on some dry leaves to protect the cherry leaves.
When winter arrives, the plant bulges under the weight of the falling snow. It snows so much that the road from the valley gets covered with snow for several days. Grandfather grows frustrated because he could not get his newspapers as the roads are blocked. Consequently, his stories also have sad endings now.
The Flowers
Rakesh turns nine in February and the cherry tree turns four years. It almost reaches up to his head now. One day, his grandfather sees some pink flowers on the cherry tree. For Rakesh, it is nothing short of a miracle. The next spring there are more flowers.
Birds and bees start drinking its nectar and the tree grows taller than him. Soon, Rakesh turns 10 and the cherry tree turns 5. Rakesh starts enjoying books along with his grandfather’s stories. There are more birds came and even more flowers.
The Fruits
Finally, the next summer brings the first fruits. But when Rakesh eats them, they were sour instead of sweet. Grandfather consoles Rakesh and tells him that the cherries would develop into tastier fruit the following year.
One evening Rakesh asks his grandfather about the thing that made the tree. His grandfather replied that the efforts they put in to nurture the plant made it special. Rakesh admires the bark and leaves of his cherry tree, his own creation.
Rakesh was so mesmerized by it that he considers it to be a manifestation of God. He imagines that it was what God must feel about his creations.
The Cherry tree is a symbol of survival and it escapes almost eaten by a goat and being cut with the grass. Just as human beings struggle in life so too does the cherry tree. But the cherry tree shows resilience and the ability to withstand adversities.
The bond between Rakesh and the tree is of care and nurture, just like a family who is caring for each other. He never abandons his tree even when the conditions become tough which highlights the dedication it takes to develop strong and binding relationships of affection and compassion.
Rakesh is a guardian to the cherry tree. He fulfils his responsibility and in the end, is rewarded for his efforts. The cherry seed matures into a fruit-bearing tree just like children grow into adulthood and look after their parents in old age.
Furthermore, Rakesh’s grandfather fulfils his responsibility towards Rakesh in advising him about living a healthy life. He is the light that Rakesh needs to walk on the right path in life. He is nurturing Rakesh just like he is nurturing his cherry tree.
Another theme of the story is the ability to start something new and help it to reach its potential. Through toil and determination, Rakesh helps the cherry tree to grow stronger. Rakesh feels proud of the cherry tree just like a parent is proud of his/her ward.
Appreciation of the poem
About the Poem, poet, and title
The poem, the Cherry tree is written by the great poet Ruskin Bond. The poem is about the poet’s inner feelings about the cherry tree that he planted in the thought of growing the cherry tree on his own and taking care of himself. The title Cherry tree is very apt and suitable because the poet shows the development and growth of the cherry tree and its struggles. The poet mentioned each stage of growth of the cherry tree that’s why the title is apt to the poem.
Theme/summary/gist of the poem
The subject matter of the poem is about the poet’s love and attraction toward nature. The poet thought to plant the cherry tree and in such thought the sow the cherry seed. Poet shows the stages of growth of the cherry tree. The poet mentioned the threats of the cherry tree and how the cherry tree struggled to survive and nature has its way to grow itself. At the end of the poem, the poet shows the beautiful scenery of the cherry tree and its surrounding.
Poetic style/language, poetic devices
The poem, the Cherry tree is a narrative poem. In the poem, the poet tells the story of the growth of the cherry tree and its struggle. The language of the poem is very simple and narrative. In the poem, the poet increased the beauty of the poem by using the figure of speech as Alliteration, Antithesis, Personification, climax, etc. the poem has rhyming words that give rhythmic quality to the poem. The rhyme scheme of the poem is aa, bb, dd, ee,ff, etc.
Special features/novelties/focusing elements
The poem is a nature poem. It has fine nature imagery used by the poet. The poet shows the stages of growth of the cherry tree as the life stages of a human being. In the poem, the poet shows how nature grows itself without taking by anyone. The poem has fine picturesque quality by showing the nature image and scenery.
Message /value/morals in the poem
The poet gives the message that we should take of nature; at least we should plant a tree and take care of it. The poet urges that to do tree plantation conservation of nature. if we take care of nature, nature will take care of us.
Your opinion about the poem
I am really impressed by the poem and the poet’s thoughts. It has a positive and hopeful tone in the poem. The poet’s thoughts encourage me to plant at least one tree and take care of it. From the struggle of the Cherry tree, we should take the lesson that in any situation we should be always positive and hopeful. After every worst or dark situation, there will be a better and bright future ahead. If we face the problems, and obstacles positively victory is sure. Thus, I like the poem and its optimistic tone of life.
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