The Laburnum Top - Summary and analysis

"The Laburnum Top" is a poem by Ted Hughes that explores the relationship between nature and life, particularly focusing on the connection between a tree and a bird. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and symbolism, reflecting the poet's deep observation of nature.

The poem begins with a description of a laburnum tree. The tree is quiet, silent, and seems almost lifeless. The top of the laburnum tree is described as "silent" and "still," emphasizing a sense of emptiness and dormancy.

The tree is yellow as it is September and autumnal changes have begun to show.

The seeds have fallen from the pod for a new cycle of life to begin. The tree appears lifeless without any activity around it. Suddenly, a goldfinch, a small, lively bird, arrives on the scene. The bird's arrival brings a burst of energy and life to the otherwise quiet and still tree. A machine starts up as the tree "trembled and thrills" representing the power of nature and its creatures combined. The tree is depicted as a metaphorical engine now full of life and movement with its branches swinging, leaves dancing and the bird hopping on it and flying from branch to branch. There is a flurry of activity.

The goldfinch is seen feeding her young ones who are hidden in the thick leaves of the tree. This interaction between the bird and her chicks is the source of life and vitality for the tree. The once still tree is now buzzing with the chirping of the chicks and the fluttering of the goldfinch.

The poet beautifully captures the scene where the tree and the bird are interconnected, symbolizing how nature's elements depend on each other for survival and vitality.

After feeding her chicks, the goldfinch flies away, and with her departure, the tree returns to its former stillness. The laburnum top becomes silent and empty once more, as if the life had left with the bird.

The poem ends with the image of the tree being silent and empty again, symbolizing the transient nature of life and activity. This can be seen as a metaphor for how life itself is fleeting and constantly changing.

The poem highlights the interdependence between the laburnum tree and the goldfinch. The tree provides shelter to the bird and its chicks, while the bird brings life and energy to the tree.

The use of vivid imagery, such as "the engine of her family," and "a machine," to describe the bird and its effect on the tree, makes the scene dynamic and visual. The contrast between the silence before and after the bird's visit creates a powerful effect, emphasizing the impact of even a small creature on the environment.