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The Trees
Can there be a forest without trees? Where are the trees in this
poem, and where do they go?
The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.
All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.
The night is fresh, the whole moon shines
in a sky still open
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


The Trees
Can there be a forest without trees? Where are the trees in this
poem, and where do they go?
The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.
All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.
The night is fresh, the whole moon shines
in a sky still open
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms.
Reprint 2024-25
First Flight
78
My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
ADRIENNE RICH
Adrienne Rich was born in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. in 1929. She is
the author of nearly twenty volumes of poetry, and has been called a
feminist and a radical poet.
to disengage themselves: to separate themselves
strain: make efforts to move
bough: branch
shuffling: moving repeatedly from one position to another
lichen: crusty patches or bushy growth on tree trunks/bare ground  formed by
association of fungus and alga.
1. (i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless
forest.
(ii) What picture do these words create in your mind: “… sun bury its feet
in shadow…”? What could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet’?
2. (i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and
their twigs do?
(ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?
3. (i) How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the beginning of the third
stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?
(ii) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?
(iii) Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest
from the house” in her letters? (Could it be that we are often silent
about important happenings that are so unexpected that they embarrass
us? Think about this again when you answer the next set of questions.)
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


The Trees
Can there be a forest without trees? Where are the trees in this
poem, and where do they go?
The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.
All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.
The night is fresh, the whole moon shines
in a sky still open
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms.
Reprint 2024-25
First Flight
78
My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
ADRIENNE RICH
Adrienne Rich was born in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. in 1929. She is
the author of nearly twenty volumes of poetry, and has been called a
feminist and a radical poet.
to disengage themselves: to separate themselves
strain: make efforts to move
bough: branch
shuffling: moving repeatedly from one position to another
lichen: crusty patches or bushy growth on tree trunks/bare ground  formed by
association of fungus and alga.
1. (i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless
forest.
(ii) What picture do these words create in your mind: “… sun bury its feet
in shadow…”? What could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet’?
2. (i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and
their twigs do?
(ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?
3. (i) How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the beginning of the third
stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?
(ii) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?
(iii) Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest
from the house” in her letters? (Could it be that we are often silent
about important happenings that are so unexpected that they embarrass
us? Think about this again when you answer the next set of questions.)
Reprint 2024-25
The Trees
79
4. Now that you have read the poem in detail, we can begin to ask what the
poem might mean. Here are two suggestions. Can you think of others?
(i) Does the poem present a conflict between man and nature? Compare it
with A Tiger in the Zoo. Is the poet suggesting that plants and trees,
used for ‘interior decoration’ in cities while forests are cut down, are
‘imprisoned’, and need to ‘break out’?
(ii) On the other hand, Adrienne Rich has been known to use trees as a
metaphor for human beings; this is a recurrent image in her poetry.
What new meanings emerge from the poem if you take its trees to be
symbolic of this particular meaning?
5. You may read the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ by Gieve Patel (Beehive – Textbook
in English for Class IX, NCERT). Compare and contrast it with the poem you
have just read.
Homophones
Can you find the words below that are spelt
similarly, and sometimes even pronounced
similarly, but have very different meanings? Check
their pronunciation and meaning in a dictionary.
• The dump was so full that it had to refuse more
refuse.
• When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
• The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
Reprint 2024-25
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FAQs on NCERT Textbook: The Trees - English Class 10

1. What are the main topics covered in the NCERT textbook "The Trees" for Class 10?
Ans. The main topics covered in the NCERT textbook "The Trees" for Class 10 include the importance of trees, their ecological significance, the process of photosynthesis, the impact of deforestation, and the need for conservation and afforestation.
2. How does the NCERT textbook "The Trees" explain the process of photosynthesis?
Ans. The NCERT textbook "The Trees" explains the process of photosynthesis as the process by which green plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen. It describes the role of chlorophyll in capturing sunlight and converting it into chemical energy, which is then used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.
3. What is the significance of trees according to the NCERT textbook "The Trees"?
Ans. According to the NCERT textbook "The Trees," trees play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance. They provide us with oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, prevent soil erosion, provide habitat for various organisms, and enhance the beauty of the environment. The textbook emphasizes the importance of trees for human survival and the need to protect and conserve them.
4. How does the NCERT textbook "The Trees" address the issue of deforestation?
Ans. The NCERT textbook "The Trees" highlights the negative consequences of deforestation, such as loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, climate change, and disruption of the water cycle. It raises awareness about the importance of forests and the need to prevent deforestation. The textbook also discusses the various causes of deforestation and suggests measures to tackle this issue, such as afforestation and sustainable forest management.
5. What are the conservation measures recommended by the NCERT textbook "The Trees"?
Ans. The NCERT textbook "The Trees" recommends several conservation measures, including afforestation, reforestation, sustainable forest management, and creating awareness about the importance of trees and forests. It emphasizes the need for community participation, government policies, and responsible use of forest resources to ensure the long-term conservation of trees and forests.
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