The Sea Asks the River. Poem by Nabakishore Dash

One day the sea asked
the river;
' you are uprooting
massive trees and dumping them, like straws
into my body
by your speedy and powerful
stream.
What intrigues me is that you
never bring soft and small
grassy herbs
en route to me.
Are you not able to pull
them by their roots? '
The river displayed
a sweet smile and answered
'When I move on my course,
the herbs bow down their heads,
don't put hindrance and I smoothly
flow over them as I adore
their modesty.
But the trees stand tall
with pride, strive to frustrate
my journey by blocking my path,
and therefore I uproot
and bring them with me
to crush their vanity.
I honour humbleness
and punish proudness.'

Source- A daily from Odisha in Odiya.