The Trees!

By

Madhu Rajan

                                                                                                  

Among all life forms on dear earth

We trees, seem uniquely placed

Planted in place we literally grow root,

Rain or sun shine, stay put till uproot 

Different from other life forms

In shape, characteristics and sizes 

Taller n bigger than most others

But deceptive are appearances  

Neither we have teeth to bite

Nor horn to impale 

Nor  poison snake like

Or sharp, long nails

Or for that matter

Not even a snappy tail

Instead, we have branches

thick or thin, small or long

Laden with leaves,  fruits or flowers

Or some times with prickly thorn

5

Even if one of us is huge

Like a Californian redwood 

It can't hurt a fly unless

The fly deigns to come to it

( Following 4 lines - I have taken for a sketch titled “Designer Tree”)

On our own though

we can’t even move a leaf

Nor when cut and pruned on whims

can we protest and scream 

*       *         *          *           *