POISONED TALK by Raymond Wilson

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

From the acid soil that poisoned me.

 
Who killed the heron?
I, mouthed the fish,  
 
The fish said its poisoned flesh killed
Stanza 2 With my tainted flesh
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 poisoned
 
the lake with mercury. All fish, plant
Stanza 3 I poisoned with mercury
and weed died because men polluted
Fish, plant and weed the lake.
To pamper men’s greed.
 
Who killed the flowers?
 
I, moaned the wind,
  The wind said it killed the flowers
Stanza 4 I prowl unconfined, because it blew acid rain over field,
flood and fen.
Blowing acid rain
Over field, flood and fen.
 
Who killed the forest?
 
I ensured that it died,
  Sulphur dioxide (from cars and
Stanza 5 Said sulphur dioxide. factories) said it killed the forest and
everything that lived in the forest.
And all life within it,
from earthworm to linnet.

Choose the best answer.

1. Who confessed to killing cock robin?

 A. worm B. heron C. Industry
2. Where did cock robin die?
A. on a branch B. under a tree C. on a withered tree
3. What poisoned the worm?
A. acid rain B. acid soil C. mercury
4. What does tainted mean?
A. contaminated B. dirty C. smelly
5. Who is responsible for killing the flowers?
A. acid rain B. wind C. sulphur dioxide
6. How many animals are mentioned in this poem?
A. 8 B. 9 C. 10
7. How many birds are mentioned?
A. 5 B. 4 C. 6
8. Industry was proud killing the lake. Which word in the poem tells you this?
A. Moaned B. boasted C. ensured
9. Which stanzas convey the same idea?
A. 2 & 3 B. 4 & 5 C. 1 & 2
10. Which word in the poem tells you that a killer felt guilty for its action?
A. Poisoned B. unconfined C. moaned

Answer these questions based on your understanding of the poem.

1. What is meaning of ‘pamper men’s greed’? 

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2. Explain the “great harm” (stanza 1, line 3) the worm did.
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3.  In stanza 4 (line 2), what does the wind feel about his crime?
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4. What happened to the fish in stanza 2?
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5. How does the soil become acidic?
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6. What is the meaning of ‘unconfined'(stanza 4, line 3)
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7. To what is the killer in stanza 4 compared? Which word in stanza 4 is evidence of it?
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8.What is it in acid rain that is poisonous?
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9. What is a linnet in stanza 5?
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10. Who is the persona in the poem? 
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11. I did him great harm, why was the worm responsible for the death of cock robin?
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12.How was the fish responsible for killing all the birds in the lake?
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13. What caused the lake to become polluted?
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14. How were the flowers killed?
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15. What is the meaning of ‘I prowl unconfined?
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