FORM THREE POEM: POISONED TALK BY RAYMOND WILSON

Raymond Wilson Chambers (12 November 1874 – 23 April 1942) was a British literary scholar, author, and academic; throughout his career he was associated with University College London (UCL).

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.

MEANING

Stanza 1

The worm said the acid soil poisoned it and now it had poisoned cock robin after the bird ate the worm

                                                              cock robin

EARTHWORM

A WITHERED TREE

Stanza 2

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

FISH IN THE LAKE

HERON


TERN


DUCK

DRAKE

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.

FEN

Stanza 5

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

SMOG

SMOKE

 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.