(i) Whereare the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves andtheir twigs do?

(ii) Whatdoes the poet compare their branches to?

(i)In the poem, the trees are in the poet’s house. Their rootswork all night to disengage themselves from the cracks in the verandafloor. The leaves make efforts to move towards the glass, while thesmall twigs get stiff with exertion.

(ii)The poet compares the ‘long-cramped’ branches that havebeen shuffling under the roof to newly discharged patients who lookhalf-dazed as they move towards the hospital doors after longillnesses and wait to get out of the hospital. The branches also havecramped under the roof and want to get out into the open to spreadthemselves in fresh air.