It takes much time to kill a tree,
- It is not easy or quick to kill a tree.
Not a simple jab of the knife
- You can’t kill it just by stabbing it with a knife.
Will do it. It has grown
- The tree is strong because it has grown for a long time.
Slowly consuming the earth,
- The tree slowly takes nutrients from the soil.
Rising out of it, feeding
- It grows upward by feeding on what the earth provides.
Upon its crust, absorbing
- The tree absorbs nutrients, water, and minerals from the earth’s surface.
Years of sunlight, air, water,
- Over the years, the tree has absorbed sunlight, air, and water.
And out of its leperous hide
- From its rough and uneven bark,
Sprouting leaves.
- Leaves grow from the tree’s bark.
So hack and chop
- Even if you cut and chop it,
But this alone won’t do it.
- Cutting alone won’t kill the tree.
Not so much pain will do it.
- The tree can withstand a lot of damage without dying.
The bleeding bark will heal
- The bark, which looks like it is bleeding, will eventually heal.
And from close to the ground
- New growth will emerge from near the base of the tree.
Will rise curled green twigs,
- Small, green shoots will sprout.
Miniature boughs
- These small branches will grow bigger.
Which if unchecked will expand again
- If not stopped, they will grow back to their original size.
To former size.
- They will become as large as before.
No,
- But this isn’t enough.
The root is to be pulled out –
- To truly kill the tree, you must remove its roots.
Out of the anchoring earth;
- The roots need to be taken out from the ground where they are held firmly.
It is to be roped, tied,
- The roots must be tied up with ropes.
And pulled out – snapped out
- You must pull them out forcefully.
Or pulled out entirely,
- The roots should be removed completely.
Out from the earth-cave,
- The roots come out from the place where they were deeply buried.
And the strength of the tree exposed,
- This exposes the tree’s true strength.
The source, white and wet,
- The roots are white and moist.
The most sensitive, hidden
- These are the most delicate parts that were hidden underground.
For years inside the earth.
- The roots have been buried for years.
Then the matter
- After the roots are removed,
Of scorching and choking
- The tree will be dried out by the sun and deprived of water and nutrients.
In sun and air,
- It will be exposed to the sun and air.
Browning, hardening,
- The tree will turn brown and become hard.
Twisting, withering,
- It will twist and shrivel up.
And then it is done
- Finally, the tree will die.
