On Killing A Tree ...

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 its sunlight , air , water ,

And out of its leprous hide

Sprouting leaves .

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 .

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 .

Then the matter

Of scorching and choking

In sun and air,

Browning , hardening ,

Twisting , withering ,

And then it is done .

-- Gieve Patel