The Witness Poem by NRUSINGHA MISHRA

Tucked in my sub-consciousness
I frequently dream a huge banyan tree
Floating in space unhindered
I, sitting silently under this tree
with eyes closed imagine Lord Buddha
Under the peepul gazing at the sick, old and deceased
Childhood memories of this banyan
inspire me often to move to fourth dimension
But only see the unusually calm all-pervasive darkness
in sound sleeping position
Flashes of illuminating light rarely appear and swiftly gone
Leave behind a deep sense of amazement about the creation
Night breaks with dawn and the dream vanishes
and sound sleep does not persist
New day arrives and I see that
the banyan tree does not exist
What is the truth, recurring dream or the calm darkness
or this new substitution?
None of this is true and something
ever existent is true behind this perception
A massive cyclone came and hit my dear banyan
with an unbelievable powerful impact
Demolished its widely spreaded branches and dislodged
its strong adherence to the Mother Earth
Legacy of its magnanimity in giving
shelter and solace will enliven all beings in their heart
I remain as sole witness in all my changing
three states beholding the truth behind the banyan tree fact