ON KILLING A TREE

         Gieve Patel (born in 18 August 1940) is an Indian poet, playwright, painter, as well as a practicing physician/doctor based in Mumbai. Patel belongs to a group of writers who have subscribed themselves to the 'Green Movement' which is involved in an effort to protect the environment. 
           His poems speak of deep concerns for nature and expose man's cruelty to it. Patel's works include poems (1966), How Do You Withstand. Body (1976) and Mirrored Mirroring (1991). He has also written three plays titled princes, Savaska, and Mr Behram.

       “On killing a tree” is written by Gieve Patel. It tells us that only cutting the branches or cutting its stem is not enough to kill a tree. The branches and leaves will grow again. We need to cut out the root and dry it in the sun so that it is destroyed. This poem highlights a lot of morals. Firstly, it displays the destructive nature of humans.           

 

 Secondly, it shows that Mother Nature is inevitable and cannot be easily destroyed. Thirdly, the tree is a symbol of mankind. It says that human life is not so easy to end. If we cut the fingers or the skin, then we do not die. It is the heart that should be cut-out. This is the main theme of the poem. The poem is very short. But it slashes out scar in our minds.