The Laburnum Top
Significance of yellow
Both the tree and the gold finch feathers are yellow; hence the babies escape from being
detected by predators. It acts like a camouflage and establishes the relationship between the
two.
Theme
The poem presents the mutual reciprocating relationship between the laburnum tree and
the gold finch bird.
Life is a process of exchange and transformation, and people undergo exchange of energy.
The importance of interdependence and cordial relationships is highlighted in the poem.
Rejuvenation of nature and the celebration of energy
The tree symbolizes the pattern of our lives in general-dull and inanimate- but it is the
attitude of the person that makes it meaningful and worthwhile
Paraphrase
1.
The poet ted hughes says that he saw a laburnum tree that was all calm and quiet on a
September afternoon sunshine. It was autumn so the leaves had turned yellow and the
seeds had fallen off.
2.
With the arrival of the gold finch, the tree transforms and comes to life. She sits at the end
of a branch probably looking out for predators after which she announces her arrival and
then by making a chirping sound and then swiftly and quickly , she is sleek and precautious
as a lizard and moves into the thickness of the branches making her way towards her
nest.the young ones start chirping and shaking with excitement at the site of their mom,
clapping their wings and making a series of high pitched sounds which can be compared to
the starting of a loud machine. Due to the movement of the bird and her young ones the
tree also comes to life and seems to be shaking in excitement.
3.
The gold finch is called the engine of the family because just as an engine is required to start
up a machine, the gold finch provides food and nourishment to her young ones and makes
them active and energized. Then once again she comes to the end of the branch and then
with a soft whistling warning sound, probably telling her babies to remain quiet, she flies
away into the vast sky. The tree is now left as quiet and still as it had it been before the gold
finch’s arrival.
Barred face identity mask-the flowers of the laburnum tree fall like bars when the gold finch
sits behind it, the shadow of the flowers on her face looks like she is wearing a mask that has
bars on it.