ENGLISH [NCERT] Poem [3M]

The poet feels nostalgic and thoughtful about childhood. He reflects on how it vanished without a clear moment of loss. He wonders when innocence, simplicity, and trust ended, and he views childhood as a precious yet mysteriously lost phase of life.

The phrase "strange to tell" means it is surprising or unusual to say. The poet finds it odd or ironic that nature, like the rain, expresses itself in ways humans might not understand, yet it follows a meaningful and beautiful cycle.

The poet evokes the image of an engine to describe the goldfinch’s energy as it fills the tree with movement and life. Just like an engine powers a machine, the bird powers the lifeless Laburnum tree with noise, activity, and vitality.

The word "cardboard" denotes an old photograph mounted on a thick paperboard. It symbolizes faded memories and the passage of time. The poet uses this word to emphasize the fragility of memories and the contrast between past happiness and present loss.