The Story Of Trees Poem by Namita Rani Panda

In the deepest heart of a dappled forest
Where breeze hums lullabies to rest
A thousand trees fall both small and tall
In the scented air melts their silent fall
Unnoticed and uncared they decay to manure
To support seeds to sprout and prosper

Tall trees fall on silvery snow too
Where mountains stare standing in a row
Like the civilians to enemy's blow
The soil runs red like the chinars' glow

In the heart of the forest dense and deep
Where whispers of wind lull to sleep
Birds twitter from the trees' leafy crown
Till one day poachers cut them down

The echo of their groan is hardly heard
Ruthlessly trunks are dragged forward
To turn them to coins for greedy gain
Leaving on earth's chest an indelible stain
The slender branches are the woodcutter's share
The only means for his family's welfare

In the hearts of cities many more slain
To widen roads and ease men's pain
Once known as a secure shelter
Ever-ready to welcome with a cool bower
Offering juicy fruits and scented flowers
Is slayed and silenced with the passing hours
Cars pass by, no one stops to see
The sliced limbs of those murdered trees

A few ironically turned to the ultimate bed
For those greedy and the utterly crooked
From a green tree to ember's glow
They live happily and let life flow
Turned to ashes but never complain or weep
Every role they discharge with devotion deep

A few roots that intricately twist and curve
For tourists' attraction, cared to preserve
In parks, picnic spots just for fashion
A unique way to justify men's cruel action

Somewhere in a sacred place
Where ceaselessly ecstatic ocean laps
A lucky tree is felled for people's worship
From its heart the creator takes shape
The sacred Lord with large, round and lidless eyes
For eternal watchfulness, a timeless grace
A source of perpetual peace and divine bliss
As it falls for a divine birth
Its death brings light to earth

Each tree falls with dignity and grace
In forest wild or in crowded place
If you listen to a soft whisper in the air
A voice full of pure love and care
It's the tree for sure that softly whispers,
'I'm still standing here only for you dear."