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    On Killing A Tree

    Uploaded by

    anubhsanjjey
    The poem describes the process of killing a tree over multiple stanzas. It takes a long time for a tree to grow through consuming nutrients from the earth. Simply hacking or chopping a tree will not kill it, as the bark will heal and new growth will appear. To completely kill the tree, its roots must be pulled entirely from the earth, as they are the source of the tree's strength and life. Once the roots are removed, the tree will wither and die when exposed to sun and air.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    On Killing A Tree

    Uploaded by

    anubhsanjjey
    12 views12 pages
    The poem describes the process of killing a tree over multiple stanzas. It takes a long time for a tree to grow through consuming nutrients from the earth. Simply hacking or chopping a tree will not kill it, as the bark will heal and new growth will appear. To completely kill the tree, its roots must be pulled entirely from the earth, as they are the source of the tree's strength and life. Once the roots are removed, the tree will wither and die when exposed to sun and air.

    Original Title

    On killing a tree

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    The poem describes the process of killing a tree over multiple stanzas. It takes a long time for a tree to grow through consuming nutrients from the earth. Simply hacking or chopping a tree will not kill it, as the bark will heal and new growth will appear. To completely kill the tree, its roots must be pulled entirely from the earth, as they are the source of the tree's strength and life. Once the roots are removed, the tree will wither and die when exposed to sun and air.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    12 views12 pages

    On Killing A Tree

    Uploaded by

    anubhsanjjey
    The poem describes the process of killing a tree over multiple stanzas. It takes a long time for a tree to grow through consuming nutrients from the earth. Simply hacking or chopping a tree will not kill it, as the bark will heal and new growth will appear. To completely kill the tree, its roots must be pulled entirely from the earth, as they are the source of the tree's strength and life. Once the roots are removed, the tree will wither and die when exposed to sun and air.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 12

    First Stanza :

    It takes much time to kill a


    tree, Not a simple jab of the
    knife Will do it. It has
    grown Slowly consuming the
    earth, Rising out of it,
    feeding Upon its crust,
    absorbing Years of sunlight,
    air, water, And out of its
    leprous hide Sprouting
    leaves.
    Explanation:

    The poet starts the poem by praising the


    tree’s strength. A simple jab of knife can’t
    kill it, because it has grown slowly for many
    years, consuming the earth’s crust that’s
    filled with rich nutrients, and the sunlight,
    water, air, growing many more leaves.
    Second Stanza:

    So hack and chop


    But this alone won’t do it.
    Not so much pain will do it.
    The bleeding bark will heal
    And from close to the ground
    Will rise curled green twigs,
    Miniature boughs
    Which if unchecked will expand
    again
    To former size.
    Explanation:

    In this stanza, the poet suggests hacking and chopping


    the tree, and also states that this won’t kill the
    tree completely but will only injure the tree and will
    give it more pain. WIth time, the tree will start to
    regain it’s spirit, and strength and will slowly start
    to recover. The injured bark will heal itself and will
    start to grow, new leaves and branches will start to
    grow and eventually, the tree will fully recover and
    will be grown back to its fullest.
    Third Stanza:

    No, The root is to be pulled out


    — Out of the anchoring earth; It
    is to be roped, tied, And pulled
    out — snapped out On Killing a
    Tree Or pulled out entirely,
    Out from the earth-cave, And the
    strength of the tree exposed The
    source, white and wet, The most
    sensitive, hidden For years
    inside the earth.
    Explanation:

    In this stanza, The poet points out the right way to


    completely kill a tree, which is taking its deep roots
    that has been hiding inside the earth out of the soil.
    Then he explains, how important roots are for a tree to
    grow. Root is the strength of the tree, and it's the
    most sensitive part of the tree too. It gives support
    to the tree, and gives the tree it’s water. It must be
    fully taken out, to kill a tree.
    Fourth stanza:

    Then the matter Of scorching


    and choking In sun and air,
    Browning,hardening, Twisting,
    withering, And then it is
    done.

    -GIEVE PATEL
    Explanation:

    In this stanza, the poet says that after pulling


    the root from the soil, it will be exposed to the
    hot sun and air. Eventually the root will start to
    die due to the heat. And the Root will become brown
    and its soft surface will become hard, and
    eventually it will lose its shape and and will
    start to twist. And slowly it will wither away.
    Finally, The tree will completely die.
    Poetic devices:
    Alliteration:

    Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at close intervals. It is used to lend a


    lyrical or musical element to the poem.

    Examples:

    •The bleeding bark will heal.


    (Here the poet has repeated ‘ b’ and ‘I’ sounds.)

    •The source, white and wet.


    (In this line ‘w’ sound is repeated.)
    Poetic devices:
    Metaphor:

    The metaphor is a comparison between two unlike objects, but the word of
    comparison ‘like’ or ‘as’ is not used. Instead of stating that one thing is like
    another, the poet identifies one with the other.

    Examples:

    •The bleeding bark


    Here the word ‘bleeding’ is a metaphor. The poet compares the sap oozing
    out of the bark of a hacked tree trunk to the blood of a human being or a
    living creature but does not use the word of comparison.

    •leprous hide
    Here the uneven, discoloured bark of a tree is compared to the
    discoloured and gnarled skin of a person suffering from leprosy. But the
    poet does not use ‘like’ or ‘as’.

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