Beehive Poem On Killing a Tree - CBSE Revision Notes

CBSE Class 09 English Language and Literature
Revision Notes
Beehive Chapter-8
On Killing a Tree
By Gieve Patel

  • The poem On Killing a Tree is a description of man's cruelty towards Nature.
  • The poet says that it is not simple to cut a tree.
  • The tree has grown slowly over the years absorbing air, water, sunlight and the remaining nutrition from the earth. The poet says that the growing stage of the tree is similar to humans.
  • The mere act of hacking and chopping won't be enough to destroy it.
  • The bleeding barks will heal and the tree will start growing again.
  • To destroy a tree completely you will have to pull it out of the earth's cave.
  • Only then the strength of the tree is exposed. It is the most sensitive part of the tree because it was hidden for years under the earth.
  • Man further tortures the tree by scorching and choking it in the sun and air.
  • Finally the process of browning, hardening, twisting, withering takes place.
  • And the tree is completely killed.
  • Trees are our best friends but no one realizes it.