Palmyraa Natural Gift Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

The Palmyra tree, a palm of desert
Is a no man's tree on everyone's land
In the fields and meadows of Tamilnadu.
Like coconut, it's a karpakatharu (a wish tree)

Prior to paper, its leaves were paper.
Prior to tiles, its leaves were the roof.
Toddy, jiggery,liquid- kernel and fruit,
Shoots of its seeds and timber were its wealth.

Plaited boxes can replace the plastic.
Thatched with its leaves the hut is dead cool.
It is the shelter to eagles and bats
A queen of the aridshe must return..

Tiny fields were bordered with Palmyra.
The vast stretch was studded with Palmyra.
They would screen the Sun and firm the field's bunds.
They would take less space andsuck less water.

Hybrid variety is theneed of the hour.
The languishing crop must be resurrected.
Jiggery must return to replace the sugar.
Toddy must return to evict liquor.
05.02.2019