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 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.

Who killed the lake?

I, boasted Industry,
I poisoned with mercury
Fish, plant and weed
To pamper mens’ greed.
 Stanza 1
• The worm said the acid soil poisoned it and now
it had poisoned cock robin after the bird ate the
worm

Earth worm

Cock robin

A withered tree
 Stanza 2
• The fish said its poisoned flesh killed all the birds
of the lake.

Heron Duck

tern 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

linnet
 Themes:
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.
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.