Question

It takes much time to kill a tree, Not a simple jab of the knife Will do it. It has grown Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding Upon its crust, absorbing Years of sunlight, air, water, And out of its leprous hide Sprouting leaves.

Questions :

(1) What is not easy, according to the poet?
(2) What has made the tree firmly rooted?
(3) The words ‘leprous hide’ stands for :
(a) firm roots
(b) damaged with leprosy
(c) discoloured bark

Answer 1

(1) According to the poet, killing a tree cannot be done by just a single stroke of knife. It is not that easy.

(2) A tree takes years to grow. While growing it consumes water, minerals, etc. from the earth. It also absorbs sunlight, air and water all these years and is firmly rooted.

(3) The words ‘leprous hide’ stand for: discoloured bark