Banyan Tree Poem by RAVIKIRAN ARAKKAL

The shade was alomost circular,
The sun couldnt penetrate
The thick green leaves,
Of the huge banyan tree,
With hundred rootlets hanging,
Giving it an auspicious look,
People thought it devine,
People of east feared it
during night sheltering ghosts
Of the dead people
Hid it in daytime, but came out
During night, but at evening
Many sat in its cool shadow
Chatted for a long time,
Surrounded by goats and dogs,
The Banyan tree had umpteen
Number of other plants on it,
It was a life giver, a giver of peace,
Most often it stood in front
Of a temple giving the temple
An aura of devinity, this tree
Was the one which saw
Many a generation pass by,
And stood in penance
Of the good old ones and new one
It sure was a shelter for many
A being of many kinds on mother earth.

Ravikiran Arakkal