An early morning walk into the woods,
fortunes nature lovers to observe,
the sleeping and yawning leaves slowly waking up,
to the rising sun and chirping of birds.
With red, yellow and purple colors on tender petals,
flowers lure and seduce passersby for a poetic praise,
whilst wild thorns on the stem are on guard,
to protect their blooming petal cousins from abductions.
Slipping into contraction stance with the slightest touch,
meet the shy and sensitive ‘Touch-me-not’.
Trapping insects and spiders with the slightest contact,
meet the poisonous and carnivorous ‘Venus flytrap’.
It’s the rich natural cultivation,
unfolding its divine beauty and mystic charm.
Hard to grasp and interpret,
the silent whispers of these green and flowery companions.
And wonder why?
Dry aged leaves scattered on the ground, rustle slogans,
disapproving casual visits to see their descendants on plants and trees.
Howling wind rub shoulders with hesitant mum keeping trees,
unwillingly making them swing and sing,
to widespread the chorus of fear and concern,
for depleting and fading green race.
Are we deaf? Unable to hear their saddened woes,
crying of being used and not been taken care of.
Are we blind? Unable to see their sufferings,
mourning and pleading to save them.
Let’s not ignore and forget their gracious favor:
of feeding and satisfying hunger and thirst,
of extending branches for shelter and shade,
of breathing oxygen into the atmosphere.
Oh, Mankind! Where is your kindness?
Are the six senses not adequate to sense and gauge,
mother nature’s unequalled strength of love and hatred?
Then why pester and trouble her with deforestation,
making her angry and to regrettably discipline us with natural disasters.
Time has come, to plant a plant,
garland a garden, foster a forest,
and nurture them with
utmost respect and gratitude.
Indebted for the noblest cause of mother nature,
let’s take an oath, to stop babysitting the life’s chaos and worries,
and take a walk among the earth’s greenery,
‘stand and stare’ to appreciate its beauty and gesture.
Let’s keep a promise,
to be a loving parent for the greenery to flourish,
to be a dutiful guardian for the flowers to bloom,
cherishing mother nature, and her rejoice.
(Photography: M Karthikeyan)