Man & Tree

Man and tree
P K Routray

A tree coming out of seed on its birth
sends its root first to the mother earth.
Then only sends the branches up in the sky
to assimilate energy from the sun the air and the rain it does try.
For the sake of love for its basic elements of earth, air, fire, ether and water,
it penetrates hard rocks, thick foliage and many an obstacles while growing further.
Man is similarly resilient, with a built-in propensity
for growth and the conditions that promote it.
Like trees man first falls on the earth and stands on the earth,
then grows upward getting energy like trees with prosperity and mirth.
Trees and human beings are complementary to each other,
sharing the same primordial elements of ether, fire, earth, air and water.
Both men and trees intermingle with the basic elements,
while keeping harmony among their contradictory properties at every instant.
Our children and trees’ children have to share the same elements and live together,
as we both are the children and part of the mother nature.
We will live together on the earth as long as we all survive,
serving together to aid nature’s plan to interweaving lives of all living creatures to remain alive.
To the planet tree silently but ceaselessly serves as its mother,
but man with extra wisdom over trees act as mother’s butcher.
Let us learn from trees to save and serve the planet on which we all take our roots,
The health and prosperity of the mother earth should be our sole pursuits.