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POETRY
On Killing
a Tree
—Gieve Patel

Dr. Gieve Patel’s poem “On Killing a Tree” depicts the tragic reality of people cutting
down and killing life-giving trees. It also demonstrates humanity’s harshness and
insensitivity to trees. In the poem, he draws parallels between trees and humanity.
He claims that simply hacking a tree with a knife or with an axe will not kill it. A tree
must be uprooted from the ground before it may be killed. By showing people how to
kill a tree, he hopes to demonstrate the inhumanity of the act and instill sympathy for
nature and its most beautiful and useful creation.
 About the Poet
Dr. Geive Patel is an Indian poet, playwright, painter and physician. Nature is
a recurrent theme in his poetry and he tries to bring to light the cruelty and
destruction that people bring to their surroundings.

Poem in Detail
Stanza – 1
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.
Growth of a Tree
According to the poet, cutting down a tree is not as simple as people believe.
The tree will not be killed by just cutting it with a knife or an axe. The tree
matures over time and is firmly planted in the ground. According to the poet,
the tree absorbs nutrients from the ground and grows upward, absorbing
sunlight, water, and developing leaves and a strong trunk.
Humans on the same Earth.
Poet’s Mood
 Pragmatic; Insightful
Example 1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not? [NCERT]
Ans. No, a single knife’s slash will not kill the tree; it will only damage it, not
kill it, because the tree has developed over time with many nutrients and
other resources. Once, the wound is healed, the tree will regenerate.
Example 2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words
suggestive of its life and activity. [NCERT]
Ans. By taking nutrients from the soil, feasting on its crust, and absorbing
years of sunlight, air, and water, the tree has grown to its full size.
Absorbing, feeding, rising, devouring, and sprouting are adjectives that

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 describe its life and activities.
Stanza – 2
So hack and chop
But this alone wont 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.
The Magical Regenerative Ability of a Tree
According to the poet, a knife or an axe alone will not kill a tree. It will only
cause discomfort to the tree.The poet claims that sap emerges from the cut
point of the tree. The bleeding bark will mend itself over time. As a result, new
branches appear. Nature has the ability to heal and recover on its own.
Poet’s Mood
 Nature-lover; Observant
Example 3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it
bleed?[NCERT]

...
Ans. The ‘bleeding bark’ indicates the location of the tree’s cut. Just as humans
bleed when they are injured, tree bark also releases sap when they are
harmed with a knife or an axe. Where the tree is cut, it bleeds sap. But
soon the tree heals itself and starts growing again.

On Killing A Tree 3
 Dictionary
Word Meaning Synonym Antonym
Jab to hit something stab, thrust pull, dissuade,
forcefully untie
Sprouting germinating rooting, shrink, shrivel,
propagating die

..
Hack cut roughly by striking handle, manage refuse, block
heavy blows
Snapped chopped out fracture, cut hold, join
out

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[ 1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The tree will eventually perish when:
(a)the leaves begin to wilt.
(b)the bark eventually turns weak.
(c)the tree is hit by the strong heat and wind.
(d)it twists its hard branches and tarnishes.
Ans. (d)it twists its hard branches and tarnishes.
Explanation: It is mentioned in the last stanza that the tree dies when its
colour changes to brown, its branches twist and get dried, and the bark
becomes hard.

SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (SA)

[ 3 marks ]
Answer the following questions in 40-50 words:

2. Trees are said to be connected to the Earth. Choose a word or phrase

from the poem that expresses this.
Ans. The phrase “anchoring Earth” is appropriate to highlight the tree’s
connection or deep bond with the earth. Anchoring the earth involves
a firm grip on it to prevent it from falling. Just as the anchor of a ship
secures and maintains the ship steady in the sea, the ground keeps the
tree steady, healthy, stable, and secure, according to the poet.

LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)

[ 6 marks ]

Answer the following questions in 100–120 words:

3. The poem gives a detailed account about how a tree can be killed. Do
you think he supports it? Evaluate.

On Killing A Tree 5
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Ans. No, the poet does not support the killing of trees. In fact, he gives a
detailed account of how a tree can be killed to make us aware of the pain
and cruelty we cause it. He tells us at the beginning of the poem that
killing a tree is no easy task. He explains that even if we cut the trunk
off, new shoots will appear from the ground since the roots of the tree
are still alive. The tree has to be uprooted from the ground, and the roots
have to be left like that until they wither and die. The poet says that once
the final step is achieved, we have successfully managed to kill a tree.
He wants us to understand how much pain we have to cause it before it
does.

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