“THE POPLAR TREE”

“THE POPLAR TREE”

- By William Cowper

“The Poplar Field” is a poem remarkable for its celebration of the rural and it is a nostalgic poem. It was written by William Cowper in a second half of the eighteenth century. The poem is based on the recollection of the poplar field in whose shade the poet passed his time listening to the melody of the blackbird. Now all the trees have been cut down. There is neither shade nor the whispering sound of the trees. The wind and the rustling song of the leaves are distant things of past. Twelve years have passed since he took a look of his favorite field. Now the trees are lying in the grass, providing seats to the people around. One can no more hear the song of the blackbird in the particular place for it has flown to another shelter. The poet is struck with grief because of it and feels that he will be dead soon before another grove will appear in the old place. The reference to his death in the near future vindicates the adverse effect of deforestation on him. Moreover it seems to suggest that it does not take as much time for deforestation as it does for reforestation. In the last stanza, he strikes the philosophical note by declaring that life is short but the pleasures of man are shorter than life. It makes the readers feel that the pleasures given by nature are unparalleled and unfortunately man himself is responsible for the destruction of these unforgettable pleasures.

              This poem can be considered as a defense of nature conservation. It shows how the conservation brings joy through the melody of birds, shade and cool wind. On the contrary, the destruction of nature deprives the man of all the pleasures for decades. There can be neither pleasant wind nor shade nor the melodious song of the birds within his reach. In the absence of nature around, the lovers of nature will be low-spirited and wish themselves dead instead of living in a polluted atmosphere. Such an atmosphere and peace will not be suitable for such living things that find peace and tranquility in the lap of nature. Moreover, the poem clearly shows the link between the deforestation and life. In other words, the destruction of nature implies the destruction of pleasures of man, ultimately leading towards the destruction of mankind.

“UNCHOPPING A TREE”

“UNCHOPPING A TREE”

Is unchopping a tree possible? What does this essay suggest about conservation and against deforestation?

              The essay “Unchopping a Tree” is a persuasive discourse written by an American writer W.S. Merwin, It is typical of giving directions with the use of imperative form of the verb for the most part. However at the level of meaning and action, it ceases to be directive. Since the task directed in the essay is impossible, it is assumed to have a different meaning and message which is hidden.

              The essay begins with the direction for unchopping a tree which implies the process of reversing the action of “chopping” a tree. Once can see the impossibility of the tack. Also the essay indicates the unpleasant consequences of our unwise chopping of trees. Unchopping a tree involves reassembling the leaves, twigs broken nests and eggs in their original order and restoring everything their respective places. It is Herculean task for which one may be obliged to use tackle and scaffolding. Despite the completion of the work, one can hardly believe that it will hold against the first breeze and the motion of the clouds. Thus it is an obvious fact that what is chopped is chopped forever. It also implies that reconstruction is not an easy task as the destruction.

              Once a tree is felled, it is done forever, No man on earth can reassemble it in the same place with the same surroundings including the broken eggs, nests etc. hence conservation is the only solution. It saves us from the drudgery of restoring the trees to their former position. Impossibility of the task indicates the necessary of conserving the trees. The present essay makes it clear the act of chopping a tree is not an individual act anymore.

              It is connected with an ecosystem and therefore upsets the balance of nature. For instance, chopping of a tree instantly shows its consequences in the destruction of its surroundings, nest, eggs etc. disappearance of shade, cool wind and the melody of the birds are another result of the act. Hence conservation of the forest is nothing but the preservation of the nature and environment.

              Deforestation is not only the destruction of the vegetation and wild-life but also the end of the healthy environment. Hence to preserve the trees is equivalent to preserve the self in the healthy atmosphere. Hence it is our duty to bring the harmony in our surroundings. It can be done only when the members of the society move ahead with the determination of keeping things whole like the poet Mark Strand.

KEEPING THINGS WHOLE

KEEPING THINGS WHOLE

              "Keeping Things Whole" is a modern poem written by a Canadian – born poet, Mark Strand. It is a poem composed as a defense of nature conservation. The poem pleads for wholeness against the usual fragmentation that goes on in life. Owing to the minimalist style, the poem appears to be packed with meaning that conveys the message for taking step to end the fragmentation in nature.

              By using simple expressions, the poet manages to include the complex knowledge of ecosystem. Hence the poem begins with the expression that he is the "absence of field in a field" and wherever he is, he is "what is missing". This ambiguous expression makes the readers feel that the speaker has objectified himself into those aspects of nature, which are missing. It denotes his consciousness about the missing elements of nature. It also implies that nature around is not complete because one thing or other is found missing in it.

              In the second stanza, he views himself as the link that makes the movement of the air complete and harmonious. So he admits that he keeps on walking ahead without ever stopping so that the air fills the spaces that have been left by his body. It demonstrates the determination of the speaker to keep things whole and also his sensitive way of thinking about eh fragmentation. The speaker seems to suggest through this stanza that one should be conscious about the delicate aspects of the nature and act in a way that helps (in) the balance of nature.

              In the third stanza, the poet makes his intention clear. He points out that he moves around to keep things whole unlike the people who mover about for different reason. By making the distinction between his movement and others, he seems to suggest that the people should think more about the importance of preserving the nature so that is can be whole and harmonious.