This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda
I am the last tree standing
Like a sentry I guard this world
I still remember the day I sprouted
Two tiny leaves shyly peeped out
Fresh from the womb of Mother Earth
I looked around
There were many like me
Tiny saplings
All frail and flailing
The tall trees welcomed us
Into this magical world
Shading us from the harsh summer sun
Protecting us from rough winds
As we became older
Standing taller on our stalks
We became more
Aware of the world around us
The birds that rested with us
The squirrels that fed off us
The cat that slept on our branches
The bees that buzzed around us
But my favorite were the human kids
When they came to us
Climbing, giggling, laughing
I felt the happiest
The elders
Fell in a hush each time they came
Humans they said
Were not our friends
We were standing at a crossroad
With the human race
Why don’t they like us?
When I asked
They laughed at me
One of them said
It’s not that they don’t like us
They just don’t value us enough
Land, money, roads, development
Take precedence in their minds
What can we give them?
That’s more important than these
I pondered upon this
Many an eves
To me the human mind
Was a mystery
And then I met her
“Her” being a human girl
Dusky and lithe in long pigtails
She was different from the rest
There was calmness in her being
She watched every step she tread
Careful to not mistakenly
Squash an ant or trample a reed
Under her bare human feet
The first time she made her way to me
She patted, as if saying hello to me
Then gracefully she climbed aboard
And seated herself upon my fork
There she sat for very long
Mostly quiet
But sometimes breaking into a soft song
When she fell asleep
I made sure
I didn’t sway in the heavy breeze
As evening fell she left
I wondered when I would see her next
The next morning before the sun got harsh
She was again in our park
Climbing nimbly she took her place
And spent with me another day
Next day she was with me again
And next and next again and again
She always came alone
Often bringing a book along
Using my bark as a pillow
She laid reading
Sometimes dozing off as
My leaves fanned her
To sleep
We developed a bond
The girl and me
She softly whispered her secrets to me
Her hopes and dreams
She shared with me
There was no one at home
To listen to her
I became her friend
But what was really strange
It seemed she could hear me too
My questions about the human race
Were answered with patience and amazing grace
“All this development and rat race
Will one day kill us” she wisely said
“Humans are not bad you see
Just confused about what life really means”
“And what does life mean” I curiously asked
“Life is a gift, a special treat, to absorb and understand all one sees
To do what one can for other beings,”
“For other beings?” I said
“Like you” she smiled delicately
“You give shelter, you give air
Firewood, fruits you always spare
You protect this earth
You my tree are life’s sentry”
Conversations like these we often had
Our days began to roll along
I don’t know for how long she would have come to me
This wise human child who befriended me
Maybe our game would have lasted forever maybe not
I will never find out
Because that day
While we sat talking – The girl and me
The bulldozers came in a throng
Their roaring noise disturbed our peace
Birds squawked and flew away
Before we knew what was going on
We heard the old Mango tree groan
He had been hit at the bark
The girl jumped off me with a start
She rushed to where the men stood
“Stop” she said
To the one in-charge
“Stop”! I beg you with all my heart “
But the men ignored the little child
The machines continued their noisy grind
Soon the elderly tree lay on the ground
Killing the saplings upon which he fell
The girl shouted, screamed and wailed
But nothing would halt the killing trail
When my turn to be mowed came
The girl flung her arms around me
“No” Not him, I won’t let him go
The men tried their best
To wrench her off
But there was godlike strength in her arms so frail
She stuck to me and sobbed away
As the trees around me fell
I wept too for my family and friends
I don’t know exactly when
Something hit the girl’s head
But even as she slumped and fell
Her arms didn’t leave my swell
Just before night-time came
A lot more humans made their way
To where the little girl lay
Men muttered and women wailed
“So brave” “so kind” they began to say
Photographs were clicked
And meetings were held
No one had the heart
To tear the girl and me apart
That is how it came to be
The girl was buried under me
And a lot of little saplings were sown
Around us
A boundary was made
A guard posted and a sign that read
“Vaishali national park”
Cause that was her name
The girl with pigtails
Who lost the battle and died
But in her death
She brought new life
The saplings are growing
Fast and tall
I guard them now
With my All
And when they ask me about the human race
I tell them her story
“Humans are brave” I say
The best kind of mates
They fight till death
To save a friend!
This entry was awarded the WOW badge! Thank you Blogadda
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Tags: Blogadda, environment, Friendship, postaday2012, postaweek 2012, save a tree, story on environment, write over weekend WOW
As my name suggests I am a "dreamer" , an idealist at heart and dangerously sentimental. I am also a mom of two, a part time business woman, a book - lover, a stand in decorator for my restaurants ,a movie buff, a social worker by training and a "change-maker". I love traveling, reading and having conversations! not necessarily in that order. This blog is about the conversations! So if you have a moment to spare. Pull out that bean bag, help yourself to a cuppa of your choice and lets chat! 
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