Thankless Man! Poem by Vadakkumpurath Ramesan

Generations sat and slept
On his lap under the shadow
Of his green leaves ahead.
He protected generations
From rain, the winter
And the scorching sun ahead

He consoled with the breeze
That he seize and touched
On the generations sat at his
Age old big fatty roots
Protruding out as safe seats.

In spring he sprouted buds
In winter he showered flowers
Joyous to the childhood
That smell and touch the petals.

In the summer he bear
The rose-red sweet fruits
To feed the passes by
To pacify their hunger.

He took the water
By his peeping roots
That enter the heart of Mother Earth
Not to feed him alone
But to feed his guests.

As the earth spinned and took
Thousand rounds around sun
He became frail and naked
With no reserve to sprout
With no flowers and fruits.

He lost his legs decaying
He shivered even in west wind
He leaned in search
Of a helping hand to stood.

But the sprouting generation
Come with shining axes
Gazed at him and pitied
And then started to trim
His hands dried up and thin
In the quest to quench
The unrelenting animal instinct.


They axed him mercilessly
And tapped his sweet blood
In the trough of palms
And emptied his last drop
And laid him to rest for ever!
The young generation that did
The thankless act with heartlessness!