A Falling Tree

“I feel like a large tree, sought birth in soil,

Managed to grow slowly & strong, throwing my being in sun-boil.”

Falls a seed on Earth, don’t know from where,

Pods, pollens, nibbles, or a bird’s ordure in air.

Covers Mother Earth with a blanket of moss,

Nurturing within, in not so healthy fosse.

I’m pushed more down, with a hoof of a beast,

Deep in the ground, I’ll be safe at least.

Days pass by & I feel I’m growing,

A root has come out of me, without me knowing.

The sun has rose, big & bright,

The rays passing through the soil & touching my coat light.

Warm & soothing, the rays have gripped me,

Slowly pulling me up from earth, helping me grow, making me see.

Tiny little leaflets, uncurl from the cotyledon,

Smiling at the world, with a feeling so enlighten.

Days pass by & months & years, I can see myself growing without interferes.

Spring, summer, autumn & rainy & winter,

Tall I’m growing, with a splinter of a timber.

Thousands & lakhs & millions of leaves, waving freely in air without any grieves.

Oh my God! There are blossoms at the end of my branch,

I’m feeling so good, I’m feeling so avalanche.

Birds have come, sitting on my branch, taking rest,

I’m smiling in glee, because they’re my first guest.

What is it tickling? now making me burst in laugh,

Oh! They’re little squirrels,

Climbing over me, with nuts half.

Welcome, cute squirrels. I let them play on me,

Running all over, they’re feeling so free.

The sun is setting & now it’s getting dark,

The morning birds have flown away, even the squirrels & the lark.

The blossoms have shutdown & the photosynthesis slept,

Now what will the night offer, the owls & the bat?

Bring it on, I don’t mind, because I am a tree,

Selfless & loving, I’ve to offer everything in free.

Days are passing by & so are months & years,

I’m feeling, I’m growing old & gathering souvenirs.

I look at myself, there are so many nests on me,

With hollows in my trunk & the squirrels are refugees.

Old, old, old, I’m growing more older,

The winters are now colder & the thunderstorms breaking my shoulder.

The count is falling, of the leaves, blossoms & nests,

I spoke with the birds & the squirrels & the rest.

I told them very soon, I’ll be breathing my last,

My wood will then collapse & it will be very fast.

So, before I die, I want you all to go, leave me with joy, leave me little slow.

They all started weeping & refused to leave,

The truth of life is death & I had to make them believe.

Don’t worry friends, somewhere within me,

Your memories are resting & your profound love, you see.

C’mon give me a smile & bid me good bye,

Unless I’m gone, until I die.

-a.p. 

Sun, 25th March, 2012.