On Killing A Tree By Gieve Patel Summary And Analysis Of The Poem

Summary of the poem -On Killing A Tree By Gieve Patel

The presented poetry piece “On Killing A Tree” has been composed by “Gieve Patel”. The poet has described the cruelty of the man who kills the tree and admired the determination and strength of trees to live very beautifully. 

* Gieve Patel, the poet considers a tree as a living organism.

* Trees have the right to live like other creatures, but the man kills it with cruelty.

The poem can be summarised in the following ways: -

 Growth with Struggle

 The poet says that a tree takes a long time to grow. In its growth, the tree uses natural resources, sunlight, air, water, etc. After a great struggle, it rises out of the earth and brings forth leaves. The poet makes us clear that a well-grown up tree cannot be cut by the simple job of a knife.

 Natural and Painful Life

 The poet says that trees are cut roughly by striking heavy blows. Being strong it goes on bearing the painful attack. When its barks are cut, they bleed but it heals in the course of time. So the poet has compared the tree to the human body. Even the green twings rise again and expand their former size.

 The necessity of Efforts

 At last, the poet describes that the root of the tree is held securely in the earth. It is to be tied with a rope and pulled out of the earth. Obviously, a tremendous effort is required to uproot a developed tree. When the root of the tree is pulled out, then the strength is exposed. Afterward, it is not able to get nourishment. It scorches and chokes in the sun and air. Finally and gradually the life of the tree drains away.

Stanza By Stanza Explanation - On Killing The Tree

Stanza-I

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

Poetic Devices

Stanza-II

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

Poetic Devices

Stanza-III

No,
The root is to be pulled out —
Out of the anchoring earth;
It is to be roped, tied,
And pulled out-snapped out
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

Poetic Devices

Stanza- IV

Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In the sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.

Explanation

Poetic Devices

Extracts From The Poem  On Killing A Tree

Q1: Read the passage carefully and write the answer to questions given below: -

“Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In the sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering
And then it is done”

 
Q2: Name the poem and the poet.
Ans- The name of the poem is “On Killing a Tree”. It has been written by “Gieve Patel”.

 
Q3: What does this stanza signify?
Ans- It signifies the last phase of the life of the tree. Its body goes limp and it dies after the tree is uprooted.

 
Q4: What does the word choking mean?
Ans- Choking means unable to breathe.