POISONED TALK-RAYMOND WILSON

Fill in the meaning of each stanza according to your understanding of the poem

Meaning
Who killed cock robin?

I, said the worm,

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

I, mouthed the fish,

With my tainted flesh

The fish said its poisoned flesh
Stanza 2
killed all the birds of the lake.
I killed tern, duck and drake,

All the birds of the lake.

Who killed the lake?

I, boasted Industry,
Industry (factories) said it
I poisoned with mercury poisoned the lake with
Stanza 3 mercury. All fish, plant and
Fish, plant and weed weed died because men
polluted the lake.
To pamper men’s greed.
Who killed the flowers?

I, moaned the wind,

I prowl unconfined, The wind said it killed the

Stanza 4 flowers because it blew acid
Blowing acid rain rain over field, flood and fen.

Over field, flood and fen.

Who killed the forest?

I ensured that it died,

Sulphur dioxide (from cars and
Said sulphur dioxide.
factories) said it killed the
Stanza 5
forest and everything that lived
And all life within it,
in the forest.
from earthworm to linnet.
POISONED TALK-RAYMOND WILSON

Fill in the meaning of each stanza according to your understanding of the poem

Meaning
Who killed cock robin?

I, said the worm,

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

I, mouthed the fish,

With my tainted flesh

The fish said its poisoned flesh
Stanza 2
killed all the birds of the lake.
I killed tern, duck and drake,

All the birds of the lake.

Who killed the lake?

I, boasted Industry,
Industry (factories) said it
I poisoned with mercury poisoned the lake with
Stanza 3 mercury. All fish, plant and
Fish, plant and weed weed died because men
polluted the lake.
To pamper men’s greed.
Who killed the flowers?

I, moaned the wind,

I prowl unconfined, The wind said it killed the

Stanza 4 flowers because it blew acid
Blowing acid rain rain over field, flood and fen.

Over field, flood and fen.

Who killed the forest?

I ensured that it died,

Sulphur dioxide (from cars and
Said sulphur dioxide.
factories) said it killed the
Stanza 5
forest and everything that lived
And all life within it,
in the forest.
from earthworm to linnet.
Cock robin

Blue heron
Tern

Linnet