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 took eight years for the plant to grow and blossom into a 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.

The Cherry Tree Poem Summary

Following literary devices/poetic devices have been used in the poem Cherry Tree written by Ruskin Bond:

1. Alliteration – Consonant sounds are repeated in successive words for melody. “Its arms in a fresh fierce lust” Here, the consonant sound ‘f’ is repeated pleasingly. “Made a miracle from green growing” Here, the consonant sound ‘g’ is repeated pleasingly. “Shrivelled the slender stem….” Here, the consonant sound ‘s’ is repeated pleasingly.
2. Antithesis – Opposite ideas/words are used together. Example – “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 lines. “It was very small, five months child Lost in the tall grass running wild.” -Opposite ideas – small and tall are seen in the lines.
3. Climax – words, phrases, lines are arranged in ascending order of their importance. Examples “Pink, fragile, quick to fall”
4. Personification – Human qualities are attributed to non-human, inanimate objects. Example – “A Tree had come to stay” A tree is given the human quality of coming and staying.

The Cherry Tree Poem Summary