POISONED TALK

-BY RAYMOND WILSON-

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 mens’ greed.

Who killed the flowers?

I, moaned the wind,
I prowl 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 1
The worm said the acid soil poisoned it and now it had poisoned cock robin after the
bird ate the worm.

Stanza 2
The fish said its poisoned flesh killed all the birds of the lake.

Stanza 3
Industry (factories) said it poisoned the lake with mercury. All fish, plant and weed died
because men polluted the lake.

Stanza 4
The wind said it killed the flowers because it blew acid rain over field, flood and fen.

Stanza 5
Sulphur dioxide (from cars and factories) said it killed the forest and everything that lived in
the forest.
Themes:

1. 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.

2. 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 pollution.
 We must respect nature.
 We must appreciate the Earth.
 We must not be too greedy. (for money and power)
 We must protect our environment.

Sample of Questions

1. How did the cock robin die?

______________________________________________________________

2. Why do you think the tree is ‘withered’?

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3. Who killed the heron, tern, duck, drake and all the birds of the lake?

______________________________________________________________

4. If you are a nature lover, what would you do to protect the environment? Give
reason.

Action : _______________________________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________________________
5. What is the meaning of “pamper mens’ greed’”?
______________________________________________________________

6. Explain the “great harm” (stanza 1, line 3) the worm did.

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7. In stanza 4 (line 2), what does the wind feel about his crime?

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8. What happened to the fish in stanza 2?

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9. How does the soil become acidic?

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10. What is the meaning of ‘unconfined' (stanza 4, line 3)

______________________________________________________________

11. To what is the killer in stanza 4 compared? Which word in stanza 4 is

evidence of it?

______________________________________________________________

12. What is it in acid rain that is poisonous?

______________________________________________________________

13. What is a linnet in stanza 5?

______________________________________________________________
14. Who is the persona in poisoned talk poem ?

______________________________________________________________

15. I did him great harm, why was the worm responsible for the death of cock
robin?

______________________________________________________________

16. How was the fish responsible for killing all the birds in the lake?

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