Poisoned Talk

Who killed cock robin?

I, said the worm
I did him great harm.
He died on the branch of a withered tree
From the acid soil that poisoned me.

Who killed the heron?

I, mouthed the fish,
With my tainted flesh
I killed tern, duck and drake,
All the birds of the lake.

Who killed the lake?

I, boasted Industry,
I poisoned with mercury
Fish, plant and weed
To pamper men’s greed.

Who killed the flowers?

I, moaned thewind,
I prowled unconfined,
Blowing acid rain
Over field, flood and fen.

Who killed the forest?

I ensured that it died,
Said sulphur dioxide.
And all life within it,
From earthworm to linnet.

Stanza One

Line no. Line Interpretation

1 Who killed cock robin? The person wanted to know who killed the cock
robin (a male bird)

2 I, said the worm The worm admitted that it killed the bird in a
cruel way
3 I did him great harm.

4 He died on the branch of a withered tree The robin died on a tree that was weak and
dying

5 From the acid soil that poisoned me. The acid soil was toxic and the worm was
affected. The bird was affected too after eating
the worm.

Stanza Two
Line no. Line Interpretation

1 Who killed the heron? The person wanted to know who killed the
heron (a bird that feeds on fish)

2 I, mouthed the fish, The fish confessed that it killed the bird
because the fish was already poisoned or
3 With my tainted flesh polluted.

4 I killed tern, duck and drake, In fact, the birds that fed on the fish in the lake
died because of the poisoned flesh of the fish.
5 All the birds of the lake.

Stanza Three

Line no. Line Interpretation

1 Who killed the lake? The person wanted to know who

killed/destroyed the lake.

2 I, boasted Industry, The lake was destroyed by the industry around

it

3 I poisoned with mercury Note: Mercury is an industrial waste that is

released into the water.
4 Fish, plant and weed
This toxic waste killed the fish, plant and weed
in the lake

5 To pamper men’s greed. To please people who were greedy and selfish,
not caring about the environment.

Stanza Four

Line no. Line Interpretation

1 Who killed the flowers? The person wanted to know who

killed/destroyed the flowers

2 I, moaned the wind, The wind sadly admitted that it blew acid rain
all over the place, without any control
3 I prowled unconfined,

4 Blowing acid rain

5 Over field, flood and fen. Acid rain destroyed the plants and trees,
affected the water and wetland too.

Stanza Five
 Line no. Line Interpretation

1 Who killed the forest? The person wanted to know who

killed/destroyed the forest

2 I ensured that it died, The forest was destroyed by sulphur dioxide

(gas or liquid from the industrial processes and
3 Said sulphur dioxide. the burning of coal & petroleum. It dissolves in
water to form acid and is harmful to plants and
animals.)

4 And all life within it, Sulphur dioxide destroyed all the creatures in
the forest, including the worm and the linnet
5 From earthworm to linnet. (small bird).

THEMES:
 Destruction of the environment and the wildlife
 Industries lead to destruction
 Development versus environment
 Crime against nature
 Man’s greed versus nature

MORAL VALUES:
 Love and care
 Moderation
 Responsibility
 Concern
 Co-operation
 Kindness

MORAL LESSONS:
 We should protect our environment
 We should be kind and protect plants and animals
 Love nature
 Save our environment

PRACTICE 1

STANZA 1

1. Where did the cock robin die?________________________________________

2. What poisoned the worm?__________________________________________

STANZA 2

1. How did the fish kill the heron? _______________________________________

2. What else did the fish kill?___________________________________________

STANZA 3
 1. What did Industry poison the lake with? _______________________________
2. Why did Industry kill the lake? ______________________________________

STANZA 4

1. Which word suggests that the wind was sad? __________________________

2. Which phrase has the same meaning as “move freely)?
_______________________________________________________________

STANZA 5

1. What destroyed the forest? _________________________________________

2. Which line tells us that everything in the forest was destroyed?
_______________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions)

1. How could the robin be poisoned by the worm?

______________________________________________________________
2. Why did the birds go to the lake?
______________________________________________________________
3. Give TWO negative effects of modern industries.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4. Name TWO types of pollution.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. How can we save the environment? Suggest TWO ways.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY)

No. Word Meaning No. Word Meaning

1 withered 5 moaned

2 tainted 6 prowl

3 boasted 7 unconfined

4 pamper 8 fen

Note :
BIRDS mentioned in the poem:

Cock robin, heron, tern,

drake, duck, linnet

cock robin tern

heron duck

drake linnet