Theme of the Poem The Heart of a Tree
In the poem, the poet seems to be great anxious about the existence of human beings and other creatures on the earth, hence he emphasises on the value and advantage of the tree. He is very well aware of the fact that without trees there would be a desolated and disastrous state on the earth and no life on the earth can be imagined. So, in an indirect way, he presents before us a crucial importance of trees for our survival and describes innumerable advantages of the trees. The trees perform a vital role in making the atmosphere cool and pleasant. The trees provide us fresh and healthy air.
They take in carbondioxide and emit oxygen for human beings to inhale. Also transpiration from plants is an important process in earth’s water cycle, which is essential for rain. Trees can reduce air temperature by blocking sunlight. Further cooling occurs when water evaporates from the leaf surface. The conversion of water to air vapour- a chemical process-removes heat energy from the air. Fallen tree leaves can reduce soil temperature and soil moisture loss. Decaying leaves promote soil microorganism and provide nutrients for tree growth. Trees help settle out and trap dust, pollen and smoke from the air.
They create an ecosystem to provide habitat and food for birds and other animals. They bear seeds, buds, flowers and fruits. The seeds that fall from the plants sprout again and give birth to many new plants. In this way they create dense forests. These forests will prove as a boon for the future generations. The plants growing in the forests are used for making different kinds of medicines.
The poet seems to be very conscious about the future of the earth. It seems as if he could see the impending disaster of the earth and thus in an indirect way, he makes a universal appeal to the readers to plant trees, not only for themselves but also for the future generations.
Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers