The poem describes a laburnum tree that is still and quiet until a goldfinch arrives. The goldfinch enters the tree's branches and begins feeding her family, causing the whole tree to tremble and thrill. The tree is likened to an engine being stoked by the goldfinch. When the goldfinch leaves with a whistle-chirp, the laburnum subsides back into emptiness.

1. THE LABURNUM
TOP
BY- TED HUGHES

2. • The Poem "The Laburnum Top" is a beautiful poem
by Ted Hughes. In this poem, the poet has used the
Laburnum tree and goldfinches as a symbol of life
and its fluctuations. He describes the visiting of
goldfinches on the Laburnum tree and how she has
made a nest on it. When the goldfinches have
chicks, it brings alive the tree as the chicks start to
rustle and chirp. Hughes is trying to convey the
message that life is a process of exchange and
transformation. People are alive because they
undergo exchange of energy. The goldfinches
transform the tree and make it alive, without the
goldfinches and the chicks the laburnum is just
another tree

3. • The Laburnum top is
silent, quite still. In
the afternoon yellow
september sunlight.
A few leaves
yellowing, all its
seeds fallen.

4. • Till the goldfinch
comes, with a twitching
chirrup. A suddenness,
a startlement, at a
branch end. Then
sleeks as a lizard, and
alert, and abrupt, she
enters in to the
thickness, and a
machine starts up of
chitterlings, and a
tremor of wings, and
trillings-

5. The whole tree
trembles and thrills.
It is the engine of
her family. She
stokes it full, then
flirt out to a branch-
end. Showing her
barred face identity
mask.

6. • Then with eerie
delicate whistle-
chirrup whisperings.
She launches away,
towards the infinite.
And the laburnum
subsides to empty.

7. • To what extent is birds movement
compared? What is the figure of speech
used?
• Why is the image of the engine evoked by the
poet?
• What do you understand about the beginning
and the ending of the poem?
• Note down the sound words, the movement
words, the dominant colour of the poem.