Class 10 3rd Poem Climbing By Amy Lowell

 

         Climbing

                               By Amy Lowell

          High up in the apple tree climbing I go,

          With the sky above me, the earth below.

          Each branch is the step of a wonderful stair

          Which leads to the town I see shining up there.

 

          Climbing, climbing, higher and higher,

          The branches blow and I see a spire,

          The gleam of a turret, the glint of a dome,

          All sparkling and bright, like white sea foam.

 

          On and on, from bough to bough,

          The leaves are thick, but I push my way through;

          Before, I have always had to stop,

          But to-day I am sure I shall reach the top.

 

          Today to the end of the marvelous stair,

          Where those glittering pinacles flash in the air!

          Climbing, climbing, higher I go,

          With the sky close above me, the earth far below.

 

About the Poet: Amy Lowell

·         Amy Lowell (1874–1925) was an American poet associated with the Imagist movement, which focused on clear, precise images and free verse.

·         She was known for her vivid descriptions of nature and everyday life, using simple yet expressive language.

Climbing by Amy Lowell is a poem that describes the speaker’s experience of climbing an apple tree and observing the world from above. Each branch of the tree is compared to a step of a stair, symbolizing effort and progress. As the speaker climbs higher, she notices beautiful sights such as spires, turrets, domes, and sparkling sea foam, which reflect the wonder and beauty of nature. Despite obstacles like thick leaves, she is determined to reach the top, showing perseverance and ambition. Overall, the poem celebrates the joy of climbing, the beauty of the natural world, and the satisfaction of achieving one’s goals through effort and determination.

Difficult Words & Synonyms

1.      Branch – limb, bough, offshoot

2.      Stair – steps, staircase, ladder

3.      Shining – glowing, gleaming, radiant

4.      Spire – steeple, tower, pinnacle

5.      Gleam – shine, sparkle, flash

6.      Turret – tower, lookout, battlement

7.      Glint – glitter, twinkle, flicker

8.      Dome – rounded roof, cupola, vault

9.      Sparkling – glittering, dazzling, shimmering

10. Foam – froth, bubbles, lather

11. Bough – branch, limb, shoot

12. Thick – dense, heavy, crowded

13. Marvelous – wonderful, astonishing, amazing

14. Glittering – sparkling, gleaming, shining

15. Pinnacles – peaks, summits, tops

 

Choose the correct answer.

a. What does the speaker view from the branch of the tree?

i. the sky

ii. the earth

iii. the town

Ans:- iii. the town

b. What aids the speaker to go up and up?

i. the apple tree

ii. the branches on the tree

iii. a stair bought for her support

Ans:- ii. the branches on the tree

c. What does the speaker compare the glow of a dome with?

i. a turret

ii. a spire

iii. Seafoam

Ans:- iii. seafoam

d. Which of the following statements is true?

i. The speaker used to climb onto the tree top.

ii. The speaker is sure to get to the top of the tree now.

iii. The tree leaves will certainly prevent her from going higher and higher.

Ans:- ii. The speaker is sure to get to the top of the tree new.

e. Which of the following statements carries the message of the poem?

i. We should not give up in the middle of any situation or a goal.

ii. Be satisfied with what you have at the moment.

iii. We cannot enter heaven without a staircase.

Ans:- i. We should not give up in the middle of any situation or a goal

Answer these questions.

a. Why does the speaker want to climb on the tree?

Ans:- The speaker wants to climb on the tree to reach the town she sees shining above.

b. What things are shining brightly when viewed from above?

Ans:- The spire, turret, and dome are shining brightly when viewed from above.

c. Is it the first time that the speaker has climbed up the tree? How do you know?

Ans:- It is not the first time the speaker has climbed up the tree. The line “Before, I have always had to stop” suggests that he had climbed the tree before but couldn’t reach the top.

d. Make a list of words from the poem which describe the light or brightness.

Ans:- The list of words from the poem which describe the light of brightness are: shining, gleam, glint, sparkling, bright, glittering, flash etc.

e. What do the sky and the earth symbolize in the poem?

Ans:- The sky symbolizes vastness, limitless possibilities, and freedom. It also means dreams or goals. The earth symbolizes stability, grounding, physical realm.

– The sky symbolizes the desire for exploration and the earth symbolizes the comfort of familiarity and the beginning point for the journey.