Indoor Plant Poem by M. Asim Nehal

I am witness to the lively conversation between
Indoor and outdoor plant and here it goes:

I am indoor plant, a plant meant to grow and live,
Within four walls in a small pot.

I am taken care with good manure and pure water
My growth delight my master.

A caring master who is always vigilant,
With an eye on me, I am taken out occasionally.

When sun is not so bright and wind is mild,
But I have so much to complain about.

When I see my compatriot growing fast,
Standing tall and enjoying life I envy.

I feel depressed when I see birds making nest,
Travelers sitting beneath to take rest.

When Children climbing and playing hide and seek
Ploughing fruits to eat.

I always had my complaints reserved for the day,
When I would get an opportunity to speak.

And one day the lady luck smiled:
I got the opportunity to stay besides the tree.

The tree I envied the most.
My conversation started with all negatives thoughts
Thoughts that I had stored for long!

The tree smiled and said something for my delight,
Do you know the painful story I have?

I was thrown out like an orphan, the discarded one
To fight my battle alone left at the mercy of God

Sun, wind and night all tested my patience
Water gushed weakening my roots
Cattles ate my stems and leaves
Kids ploughed leaves, stems and fruits
I suffered pain and agony

When fungus, pests and insects troubled me
I stood alone in the heavy rains
In the scorching sun, In the melting chilly nights
When you were under shade of protection

And under care of your master
My trials and turbulence taught me many lessons
Hardship, sacrifices, pain and suffering
One day they came and put a mark on me to cut
To cut for broadening the road for humans

I survived because of a tree lover,
Who suggested cutting only few branch,
Birds that built the nest by hurting me,
Laid the eggs hatched it and then flew.

See now I have grown old and have become weak
Nobody come to me but the only time I felt proud
Was when an old man came with his grandchild.

Stood beside me and said this tree was my best ally
When I was young I climbed on it umpteen times
Ate fruits, sat to write my homework and slept
And he showed my picture.