The poem describes the process of killing a tree. It notes that simply chopping or hacking at a tree is not enough to kill it, as the bark will heal and new growth will emerge. To truly kill the tree, one must pull its roots out of the ground, exposing the white and wet source of the tree's strength and life. Only then, by scorching and withering the root in the sun, is the tree fully killed.

1. I can be chopped but I’m not a carrot
I have rings but I’m not an onion
I can be climbed but I’m not a
mountain
I’m made of wood but I’m not a table
I have a trunk but I’m not a car.
Who am I ?

6.  Indian poet, play writer, painter and physician.
 Part of “Green Movement” – to protect the
environment.
 Poems expose man’s cruelty to nature.
 Poems – ‘How Do You Withstand’, ‘Body’, &
‘Mirrored Mirroring’
 Plays - ‘Princes’, ‘Savaska’ & ‘Mr. Behram’.

8. 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 of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leprous hide
Sprouting leaves.
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.
• 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.

9. Jab :
a sudden rough heavy blow

10. Crust –
a hardened layer, coating

11. Leperous hide –
the scales seen on the outer portion of
the bark. (skin)

12. Sprout –
to begin to grow

13. 1. Who is the author of the poem ‘On
Killing A Tree’ ?

14. Gieve Patel, he is an environmentalist.

15. 2. How was the tree grown to its full
size? List the words suggestive of its
life and activity.

16. The tree consumes the earth, and rises
out it feeding upon its crust. It absorbs
years of sunlight, air and water.

17. What is a
personification?
Personification: Giving human
qualities to objects and animals.
E.g. : And out of its leperous hide.

18. Activity
Pick out another example of
personification from the poem.

19. Answers….
Feeding upon its crust, absorbing years
of sunlight, air, water.

20. Assignment
What do you understand from the title
“On Killing A Tree”?
Is it is to kill a tree?
Justify the title in your own words.