Poetry: Sushma Malhotra

Sushma Malhotra

Ode to a Tree

Beauty of the trees, full of joy

Bring me a sense of its glow,

As the leaves shining feeling coy

Inviting the joggers to rest below.

Chirping of the unnumbered birds

Nestled amidst the leaves

Signaling the rain as it pours

From the pens of the herds

Shaking left and right tree heaves

Bringing joy to my heart that soars.

Masses wait after the scorching heat

Gaze at sky for sun to move away,

Yearning to dance with bare feet

Companionship stays will never betray.

Big trees changing faster facts known

Who wants to remember not to forget,

Ongoing routine continues with trees

Change will happen whether planted or sown

Masses work hard enjoy without sweat,

Flowers, leaves, branches all to squeeze.

Look wait is over and the time has come

All greenery changing from bottom to top,

Orange, red, brown, yellow make me numb

Lumberjacks adore, who came to chop.

My pains disappear and heart relieved

As the eyes sooth with the view on a tree

In search of the painter and his brush

Felt sensation within me and perceived

Unsung and unheard words felt His decree

Nature changed the colors in a hush.

Multicolored leaves covering the ground

Fluttering with the wind up and below

Sometimes in circles or going around

In the sun as kaleidoscopic balls throw.

Tall and elegant tree standing stripped

The gauchy look scares me with tears

Bending its branches to touch the land

Blue sky brings joy, all trees to be equipped

Want to encircle the tree, showing hope with prayers

Promising the drape of leaves as planned.

***

Moving Time

Slowly and slowly

step by step 

the time crawled 

to bring to its eternity.

Days in to weeks

weeks into months

months into years

then to the next year.

Dawn to dusk

noon to night

watching and listening 

news and reports.

Numbers and names

closing and opening business

trains started working

frontline workers on job.

Politics continued

elections held

losing and winning

parties announced.

Arrogance held high

intelligence defied

race looked down

names were recognized.

The year will pass

the ball will drop

Times Square will lit

masses will watch.

What about the feelings?

What about the changes?

What about the friction?

What about the solutions?

Questions unanswered!

Mystery unresolved, unsettled, and unexplained!

Reasons unfounded, groundless, and unproven!

Connections Mitigated, diminished, and weakened!

***

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Setu, May 2022