Beautiful Tree
POETRY FORMAT, 9 Sep 2024
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
Oh you beautiful tree
With large green leaves
With birds and squirrels
Jumping and Hiding
Hiding in your branches
But they can’t hide
We know they are there
Especially the squirrels
With large tails
As big as their bodies
Oh you large tree
Without a name
‘Who says I am nameless?
I have a nice name’
‘Oh good, what is your name?’
‘My name is Neem, beautiful Neem’
Is Neem a name or name is Neem?
Take it as you like it
But people call me Neem
And they eat my leaves
Why do they eat your leaves?
They are not sweet, but bitter
‘The more bitter they are
The better they like them
And so they like me’
Why, this word bitterness is needed
If everything is sweet and nice
This world would not exist
Like tall and short
Slow and fast
Adult and child
Man and woman
We need opposites
And make the world
Not just Dull and Faded
But lively and interesting
For children and adults
So a tree with bitter leaves is needed
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: Poetry
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 9 Sep 2024.
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