1) The poem is about the lethal effects of pollution on nature. 2) Each verse begins with a question about who is responsible for polluting an element of nature, followed by a confession from the guilty party explaining how they committed the crime. 3) It becomes clear that all of the deaths were actually caused by pollution, with industry ultimately responsible for polluting the earth.

1. Question and Answer
Samples and Techniques
RaymondWilson

2. The poem Poisoned Talk by Raymond Wilson is about the lethal effects of pollution
on the (1)____________________. Each verse begins with a (2) ____________
about who is responsible for the (3) __________ of an element of nature. This is
followed by a (4) _______________ by the guilty party. The culprit explains how he
committed the (5) ____________. From his explanation, we realise the death was
caused by (6) ____________. The real killer is (7) _________, who polluted
the earth.
confession man
environmentcrime
pollutionquestion
death

3. a. Who confessed to killing cock robin?
b. What ‘great harm’ did the worm do to cock robin?
c. Where did cock robin die?
d. What poisoned the worm?

4. a. Who confessed to killing the heron?
b. Where does the heron lives?
c. What does the tainted mean?
d. What kind of birds are the tern, duck and drake?

5. a. Who confessed to killing the lake?
b. How does the killer feel about his crime?
c. What is ‘weapon’ used by the killer?
d. Why did the culprit commit the crime?

6. a. Who confessed to killing the flowers?
b. What does ‘prowl unconfined’ mean?
c. How were the flowers killed?
d. Why do you think the poet uses alliteration in the last line
(line 20)?

7. a. Who confessed to killing the forest?
b. What does the word ‘ensured’ (line 22) tell us about this crime?
c. What does word ‘life’ refer to?
d. What does the last line (line 25) tell us about the power of
the killer? Give reason for your answer.

8. Describe your feelings about pollution
after reading this poem.

10. a. How did the worm kill cock robin?
b. How does Industry feel about killing the lake?
c. Name two poisonous substances mentioned in the poem
d. Do you think the fish should be blamed for the death of the
birds of the lake? Give a reason for your answer

11. a. Cock robin and the birds of the lake died of the same cause. What is the
cause of their deaths?
b. Who took the blame for killing the flowers?
c. What did sulphur dioxide destroy?
d. In your opinion, why did the poet write this poem? Give a
reason for your answer

12. In your opinion, why did the poet write this
poem? Give a reason for your answer