The Laburnum Top 11

"The Laburnum Top" by Ted Hughes, 

POEM :- 

The Laburnum top is silent, quite still 

In the afternoon yellow September sunlight,

 A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen.

 Till the goldfinch comes, with a twitching chirrup

 A suddenness, a startlement, at a branch end. 

Then sleek as a lizard, and alert, and abrupt, 

She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up 

Of chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and trillings —

 The whole tree trembles and thrills. 

It is the engine of her family. 

She stokes it full, then flirts out to a branch-end

 Showing her barred face identity mask

 Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings 

She launches away, towards the infinite 

And the laburnum subsides to empty

Word Meanings

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Laburnum	A tree with yellow flowers and poisonous seeds
Goldfinch	A small yellow bird known for its chirping
Twitching	Moving with quick small movements
Chirrup	A short, high-pitched sound made by small birds
Sleek	Smooth, shiny, and elegant
Lizard	A fast, alert reptile, used as a simile
Abrupt	Sudden and unexpected
Thickness	Dense part of the tree (with leaves/branches)
Chitterings	Sounds made by small birds (chattering or chirping)
Tremor	A slight shaking movement
Trillings	High-pitched repetitive sounds (birdsong)
Engine	A metaphor for energy or life
Stokes	Feeds or energizes (like fuel to a fire or machine)
Flirts out	Jumps out playfully or lightly
Barred face identity mask	Patterned face of the bird (resembles a mask, helps identify the species)
Eerie	Strange or mysterious in a slightly scary way
Infinite	Endless or vast (sky or open space)
Subsides	Becomes quiet again

Summary (Easy Language)

The poem describes a laburnum tree on a quiet afternoon in September. It stands still, lifeless, with yellowing leaves and fallen seeds. Suddenly, a goldfinch bird arrives. Her arrival brings sudden life and sound to the tree. She moves quickly and sharply, like a lizard, into the thick branches where her young ones are.

As she enters, the tree seems to come alive with the chittering of chicks and the rustling of wings. The tree trembles with excitement, becoming like a machine or engine, energized by the bird’s presence. She feeds her babies, then moves to the edge of a branch, showing her barred face, and flies away with a mysterious, sweet whistle. The tree once again returns to its silent, empty state.

Central Idea of the Poem

The poem explores the relationship between nature and life. The laburnum tree, which appears lifeless and still, becomes full of energy and motion when the goldfinch bird arrives. The bird is shown as the source of life, like an engine that brings the tree to action. It highlights how small creatures can bring energy, movement, and beauty to the world around them.

Think it Out – Answers to NCERT Questions

1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?

Answer:  The poem begins with silence and stillness—the tree is lifeless. It ends in the same way, returning to quiet after the goldfinch flies away. This creates a cyclical pattern, showing how the tree only comes alive when the bird is there.

2. To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison?

Answer:  The bird’s movement is compared to a lizard—sleek, abrupt, and alert. The comparison is based on how quickly and sharply both the lizard and the bird move, especially when entering the tree.

3. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?

Answer: The engine is a metaphor for the life and energy that the bird brings to the tree. When the goldfinch enters, the silent tree becomes full of movement and noise, like an engine starting up. It symbolizes activity, life, and power.

4. What do you like most about the poem?

Answer : I like the way the poet uses nature to show emotions and movement. The goldfinch turning the quiet tree into a lively, energetic space is very beautiful. The use of metaphors and sounds makes the poem vivid and alive.

5. What does the phrase “her barred face identity mask” mean?

Answer:  It refers to the pattern on the goldfinch’s face—the lines or bars on her feathers. It looks like a mask and helps to identify the bird, like a unique identity or feature.

Poetic Devices Used

Device	Example	Effect
Simile	“Sleek as a lizard”	Shows the quickness of the bird
Metaphor	“Engine of her family”	The tree is compared to a machine energized by the bird
Alliteration	“tree trembles and thrills”	Repetition of sounds creates rhythm
Personification	“The whole tree trembles and thrills”	Gives the tree human-like qualities
Imagery	Visual and sound images of the tree and the bird	Helps readers picture the scene clearly

Find Out Section – Guidance

1. What is laburnum called in your language?

(You can check the name in your local language or region. Example: In Hindi, it’s called Amaltas.)

2. Which local bird is like the goldfinch?

(It can be any small yellow or chirping bird from your area, like bulbul or tailorbird, depending on your region.)