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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

4 comments:

  1. Scary way of explaining deforestation... lol. But quite effective too, I guess.

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  2. How ever It is the truth r8 ;)

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  3. I'm reminded of a song [Colours of the wind]:
    "But I know every rock and tree and creature... has a life, has a spirit, has a name"
    :)

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  4. ooi rachu this poem is from our 10 th english book right?......Anyway good u helped to spread this nice little poem....hats off.. :D

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