The poem "On Killing a Tree" by Gieve Patel sensitively conveys the process of killing a tree. It takes a long time for a tree to grow with strong roots that draw nutrients from the soil. Merely cutting the bark does not destroy a tree, as the wound will heal and new branches will grow. To truly kill a tree, it must be completely uprooted so that its roots are detached from the earth that nourishes it. Once uprooted, the tree will slowly wither, twist, and harden until it dies. The poet aims to persuade readers not to thoughtlessly destroy trees by equating it with killing a living being.

1. ON KILLING
A TREE
G I E V E PAT E L

2. About the Author: Gieve Patel (born on 18th August 1940) is an
Indian poet and playwright. His first play was called ‘Princes’ and
was performed in 1971. He was born in Mumbai and educated at
Grant Medical School. He briefly worked as a medical examiner
rural Gujarat before moving back to Mumbai. He currently
in Mumbai and practices medicine. He is also a painter. As one of
the contemporary Indian artists, he has been part of exhibitions
around the world.
The poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ was one of the poem of his poetry
collection named ‘Poems’ published in 1966. This collection was
launched by Nissim Ezekiel.

3. “On Killing a Tree” is a scathing criticism of human callousness
and cruelty in chopping down trees for agriculture, urbanization
and industrialization. The poem also applauds the sturdiness and
resilience of trees, they take all kinds of attacks and wounds in
their stride but refuse to die.

4. MAJOR THEMES
• Death:
Death is the foremost theme in this poem. The cutting down of trees is
equated with death. Every time Patel talks of cutting down a tree, he
it as killing it. The death the poet incorporates in this poem is both natural
and spiritual.
Deforestation:
• Deforestation is another major theme. Deforestation has become a
problem, especially in the modern times, where forests are cleared to
roads, or for furniture of for fossil fuel. It is incredibly harmful to the
ecosystem and the imminent danger is felt throughout the poem.
Pain:
• Patel spins a very visual tale of pain where the reader can almost feel the
hacks made at a tree. The ‘bleeding bark’ is the visual representation of
pain Patel envisions the tree going through.

5. MESSAGE
In the poem, “On Killing a Tree” by Gieve Patel, the poet wants to
say something about the cutting of trees. According to him, it will
take too much time to kill a tree. The tree does not seem to feel
any kind of pain because the bleeding bark seemed to heal all the
time.
The poem conveys the message that trees are living beings just
like any other form of life. They have strong survival instincts and
can withstand any type of assault, trauma or crisis. It is not easy
to kill them, for they have a never-say-die attitude to life.

6. The central idea in this poem is that the act of killing a tree is
equal to destroying the environment. We cannot pretend that the
slow destruction of our forests and our landscapes is a result of
accident.

7. SUMMARY
“On Killing a Tree” is a sensitive poem. The poet persuades the reader not to
destroy trees and equates it with “killing” a human being. He says that a plant
takes sunlight, water, air and nutrients from the soil to gradually become a
huge tree. It develops a strong trunk and gets numerous leaves.
Merely cutting the trunk of the tree does not kill it. When a tree is cut, the sap
flows out just like a wounded man bleeds. Once the wound heals, new
branches and tiny leaves grow from there which grow into trees.
In order to destroy a tree, it has to be uprooted. The roots which are white in
colour and are damp due to the moisture that they get from the soil are
hidden in a pit in the Earth. These roots are the most sensitive part of the tree
as they bind it to the earth. In order to kill the tree, these roots have to be
detached from the soil.
Once the roots are detached, the tree starts dying, It withers, dries up with the
action of heat and wind, twists, hardens and finally, dies.

8. PARAPHRASE
It takes much time…………….. Sprouting leaves
A simple cut does not destroy a tree. A tree grows gradually, it is
rooted in the soil. A plant takes nutrition from the soil to grow
into a big tree. The tree is firmly bound with the soil. It takes in
sunlight, water and air to grow into a strong trunk and have
numerous leaves.

9. So hack and chop…………. To former size
Humans cut and chop the bark of trees into many pieces but that
is not sufficient to destroy the tree. The point of the tree which
gets cut gives out sap just like a human being bleeds. Gradually,
this would heals and from there new branches start growing
again.

10. No, the root………..inside the earth
The poet says that in order to kill the tree, it has to be uprooted.
One has to separate the tree from the Earth which supports it. The
roots of the tree bind the tree with the soil in the pit of the Earth.
From there, the most sensitive and hidden part of the tree - the
roots have to be detached. The roots are white in colour and are
damp.

11. Then the matter……………………and then it is done
Once the tree has been uprooted, then gradually it withers and
dries up with the action of heat and wind. The trunk will become
brown, twist and will harden. Finally, the tree will die this way.

12. LITERARY DEVICES
1. No rhyme scheme is there in the poem. It is written in free verse. There is no rhyme or rhythm.
2. Enjambment: When one sentence continues into two or more lines.
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
The most sensitive, hidden
For years inside the earth.
3. Metaphor: indirect comparison
Leprous hide - the uneven colour of the surface of the trunk of a tree is compared to the skin of a person suffering from leprosy.
Bleeding Bark- bleeding is a metaphor, the poet compares the oozing sap to human blood.

13. 4. Alliteration: repetition of a consonant sound in 2 or more
closely places words.
Bleeding bark - ‘b’ sound
White and wet - ‘w’ sound
5. Repetition: a word or sentence is repeated to lay emphasis on
it.
‘Pulled out’ is repeated
6. Imagery – slowly consuming the earth Rising out of it, feeding
upon its crust
7. Personification – The poet portrays the tree as a human being
throughout the poem

14. Asset questions
• Asset Questions:
1.what is the meaning of the word ‘HACK’?
a. computing
b. tools
c. chop
d. sports
2.Which word is OPPOSITE in meaning to ‘SCORCHING’?
a. baking
b. blazing
c. freezing
d. blistering

15. 3. Choose an appropriate option?
a. .......on a chair every day, I am not used......, and so my leg
muscles get sore when I do.
b. sitting / to being stood
c. Having been sitting / to standing
d. To sit / standing
e. Sat / having been standing
f. To have sat / to stand

16. Assignment
1. Choose the correct answer
1. ‘strength of the tree'- refers to its -
(a) green twigs
(b) new leaves
(c) rough bark
(d) roots

17. 2. What is related to the death of roots?
(a) pulling out
(b) scorching
(c) choking
(d) all of the above

18. 3. What does the poet equate killing trees with?
(a) killing animals
(b) killing insects
(c) killing human beings
(d) None

19. Answer in 30-50 words
a. How will the ‘bleeding bark’ of the tree heal ?
b. Explain the phrase ‘ consuming the earth’. Who has consumed
the earth?
c. Why does the poet refer to the tree’s hide as ‘leprous’?

20. Answer in 100-120 words
a. What are the major themes of the poem? What message is the
poet trying to convey through the poem?