Insects

Death is like the insect
Menacing the tree,
Competent to kill it,
But decoyed may be.

Bait it with the balsam,
Seek it with the saw,
Baffle, if it cost you
Everything you are.

Then, if it have burrowed
Out of reach of skill --
Wring the tree and leave it,
'Tis the vermin's will.

I think there are two meanings to this poem. The literal meaning is that the insect does not care about the tree specifically, and does not mean to kill it, it is just the way of life. I believe the figurative meaning is that death  the end is always going to come no matter how we try to evade it, and that we need to not worry about the end and should focus on life itself. We have no control over death and if it is God's will, then it is our time.