The poem describes a place that was once laden with trees but now it is barren because of deforestation. The poet memorises the bank of the Ouse River where during his childhood he played a lot.

The poet talks about deforestation from the Ouse River’s bank that has led to the loss of the greenery and the mesmerising tone of the trees. In addition, it has destroyed the blackbirds’ shelter that would fill the air with their sweet songs.

He regrets the fact that having no nest they are lying on the ground. The poet memorises there was a time when they used to live on the branches. A number of blackbirds have migrated to other places because deforestation has made them homeless.

Likewise flourishing songs that charmed the poet and their chirping are no more. The poet mourns the fact that the joys of living near the trees at Ouse River’s bank. He states that man’s joys aren’t eternal and everlasting. They are shorter even than life.

Before a man dies, they fade away. The poet says he used to get pleasure not from the materialistic things but by the trees but his only pleasure was snatched away from him. The poem contrasts the lifespan of life and trees. Trees grow up, have, leaves, etc., and give shades to the people; and finally, they are cut down.

According to the poet, as we grow older, we lose the sense of joy. As there is no guarantee of life, we should enjoy every moment. We can’t take these moments with us. Enjoyments and our pleasures perish before our death.

The poet offers the readers suggestion to save and protect the trees. He warns us that if the forests that are green are not protected by us we will die before age. We’re nature’s products, and we must surrender ourselves to it, one day.

The poet has contrasted life and the tree and stated our lives are more perishable than the trees. So the character should be defended by us. It reveals the poet’s love towards nature in life, which depicts nostalgic and rural tone. The poet suggests keeping balance. Deforestation is a challenge to the world. Through this poem, he wishes to give the message it is bad to chop trees down.

Myth means an old traditional tale or story which usually has supernatural activities and events. A myth is scientifically wrong as it is mostly without any solid proof.

However a myth can be true as well. e.g. we may have heard myth of advanced technology during the Harappan Civilisation. Now it has been scientifically proved that Harappans were quite advanced in science and technology. Similarly, we have heard about the Great Flood in ancient times in Bible and Qur’an. Science also believes that long ago earth was flooded with water.

A myth in modern times is known as image building which is used by the leaders to describe themselves as super-beings or chosen one. One example is that of Kim Jong-Il of North Korea who considers himself to be God and makes other to believe so.

Confessional Poetry is a genre of Poetry which focuses on the person himself/herself. In other words, it is a poem which is about ‘I’. In Confessional Poetry, the poet describes himself, his good and bad experiences, his physche, the truama which he has suffered and undergone and the way he lives or sees the world and the people around.

The topics of a confessional poetry may range from his childhood experiences to his illness, sexuality and the desire for suicide. Confessional Poetry emerged in United States during 1950s.

In India Kamala Das is considered to be the poineer of Confessional Poetry. Her poems like An Introduction, The Looking Glass, Words, The Old Playhouse etc are all confessional poems in which she describes her painful experiences as a woman and as also as a suppressed wife