The poet Gieve Patel has deep concern for the environment. In the poem, ‘On Killing a Tree, he treats trees as living organisms. He observes that man’s greed and selfishness cause destruction of trees. So he raises his voice against reckless felling of trees. The images of violence that the poet uses in the poem show the poet’s genuine love for trees. Words and expressions such as ‘a simple jab of the knife ‘hack and chop ‘pain, ‘bleeding bark, ‘most sensitive highlight the poet’s heartfelt sympathy for trees. As a sensitive poet, Gieve Patel describes the killing of a tree in such a vivid manner as to evoke our sympathy for trees. Thus the poem denounces man’s callousness towards the trees.