On Killing a Tree (Gieve Patel)

On Killing a Tree(Gieve Patel)

By: -Nityanandesh Narayan TripathiPGT EnglishJawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya

It takes much time to kill a tree,Not a simple jab of knifeWill do it. It has grownSlowly consuming the earth,Rising out of it, feedingUpon its crust, absorbingYears of sunlight, air, water, And out of its leprous hideSprouting leaves.

So hack and chop But this alone wont do it.Not so much pain will do it.The bleeding bark will healAnd from close to the groundWill rise curled green twigs,Miniature boughsWhich if unchecked will expand againTo 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 outOr pulled out entirely, out from the earth – caveAnd the strength of the tree exposedThe source, white and wet,The most sensitive, hiddenFor years inside the earth.

Then the matterOf scorching and chokingIn sun and air,Browning, hardening,Twisting, witheringAnd then it is done.

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