Machine vs. Toad In 1970, Joni Mitchell sang, “[t]hey paved paradise to put up a parking lot.” This same idea of industry versus nature can be seen in “The Death of a Toad,” written by Richard Wilbur. Both works convey the message of mankind having no appreciation for the delicate world surrounding them. They share the common theme of man's construction of an empire merely being the destruction of the earth which harbors them. In writing this poem, Wilbur speaks for those who cannot: the earth and its creatures. The tone of the piece is mournful. The writer personifies the toad by describing his “staring eyes” and “heartsblood” being spilled. Wilbur seems fond of the toad, and conveys a sense of loss at his death. This creates a somber
