A tree grows slowly by consuming the earth’s nutrients. It absorbs sunlight, air and water for years. Leaves come out of its bark. So neither a jab nor hacking and chopping can kill a full-grown tree. Even if it is cut with powerful and cruel strokes, it feels pain but does not die. Its bleeding bark heals itself. Its trunk, from close to the ground, produces green twigs and small branches. Gradually, if unchecked, it grows to its former size. In order to kill a tree, it is to be uprooted from the anchoring earth. Its life-supporting root is to be removed from the earth. Then, in sun and air, it is scorched and choked. Finally, it goes through a process of browning, hardening, twisting and withering. Thus, ultimately the tree is killed.

The poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ is a moving description of man’s insensible destruction of trees. Trees are our good friends and generous helpers. But, out of selfish greed, man kills trees for temporary gain. Man does not care for its contribution to the growth of human civilization. Nor does man think about his own existence on earth. He ignores its aesthetic and environmental value. He adopts violent methods for killing a tree. This insensible act of killing a tree may bring about a serious environmental problem and put the whole civilization at risk. Therefore, it is our duty to love and protect trees for the continuity of our own existence.