On Killing a Tree

11.  Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?

No, a "simple jab of the knife" cannot kill a tree. It only wounds the outer bark, which quickly heals itself as the tree's sap rises, allowing it to recover. The true source of the tree's life and strength—its roots—remains undamaged and anchored in the earth. 

12.  How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.

The tree has grown to its full size over a long time by consuming the earth—drawing nourishment from the soil and absorbing years of sunlight, air, and water. Words suggestive of its life and activity include: 'grown slowly,' 'consuming the earth,' 'rising out of it,' 'feeding upon its crust,' 'sprouting leaves,' and evidence of its vitality like 'bleeding bark' and the ability to 'heal' and 'expand again to former size.' This highlights its deep connection to the environment and its tenacious capacity for survival.

13.    What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?

"Bleeding bark" is a metaphor used to describe the tree's sap or life fluid flowing out of the wounded areas. It is made to "bleed" when the tree is hacked and chopped by human effort, severing the tissues beneath the bark and causing the sap to ooze out as a form of suffering and a natural attempt to heal the injury.

24.  The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?

The poet says "No" to assert that merely hacking and chopping the tree is insufficient to kill it. He means that despite causing significant wounds to the trunk, the tree's powerful roots remain intact in the earth, guaranteeing its rapid recovery and eventual return to its full size.

15. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?

Both "anchoring earth" and "earth cave" are metaphors. The "anchoring earth" is the soil that holds the tree's roots securely in place, providing the essential stability and nourishment that sustain its life. The "earth cave" is the deep hole or hollow in the ground where the tree's powerful roots have been safely lodged and hidden for years, emphasizing the depth of its connection and the protective sanctuary the earth provides.

26. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?

By "the strength of the tree exposed," the poet means that the true source of the tree's life and resilience—its white, wet, and sensitive roots—are finally revealed after being pulled out of the earth. The roots, which were previously hidden, protected, and responsible for anchoring and nourishing the tree, represent its strength, and by exposing them, the process of killing the tree is completed.

37. What finally kills the tree?

What finally kills the tree is the complete act of uprooting it, wrenching the sensitive roots entirely out of the secure "anchoring earth." Once exposed, the roots—the true source of its life and strength—are then left to suffer scorching, choking, browning, and withering by the harsh sunlight and air, which permanently separates the tree from its life-support system.