Meaning of Stanza

Number Stanza Meaning

Who killed cock robin? The worm said the acid soil poisoned it
I, said the worm, and now it had poisoned cock robin
I did him great harm. after the bird ate the worm
1
He died on the branch of a
withered tree
From the acid soil that poisoned
me..

Who killed the heron? The fish said its poisoned flesh killed
2 I, mouthed the fish, all the birds of the lake.
With my tainted flesh
I killed tern, duck and drake,
All the birds of the lake

Who killed the lake? Industry (factories) said it poisoned

3 I, boasted Industry, the lake with mercury. All fish, plants
I poisoned with mercury and weed died because men polluted
Fish, plant and weed the lake.
To pamper mens’ greed.

Who killed the flowers?
4 I, moaned the wind,
I prowl unconfined,
Blowing acid rain
Over field, flood and fen.
The wind said it killed the flowers
because it blowed acid rain over field,
flood and fen.

Who killed the forest? Sulphur dioxide (from cars and

5 I ensured that it died, factories) said it killed the forest and
Said sulphur dioxide. everything that lived in the forest
And all life within it,
from earthworm to linnet.

Themes :
Environmental Pollution
Men are willing to destroy our mother nature for more money and power. The factories, cars, and
other vehicles release poisonous gas and substances like mercury. This pollutes the lake and the flora
and fauna in it.

Destruction of nature
Nature has flora and fauna. They affect one another. When the lake gets polluted, the fish that lives
in it will get poisoned. When the birds eat the fishes, the birds get poisoned. Also, if the wind is
polluted, it brings the poisonous gas everywhere; all plants will wither and die. In the end, it destroys
our mother nature.

Moral Values :
We must be responsible for the things we do.
We must take actions to stop pollutions.
We must respect nature.
We must appreciate the Earth.
We must not be too greedy (for money and power)
We must protect our environment