This poem has been included in the Anthology "Float Poetry" - Re-verse the Rivers. and I recited it at the Yercaud poetry fest on 20-21 July 2019
Our land, blessed with majestic
Rivers, lakes,
ponds
The famed Ganga, Yamuna in north
Narmada and Tapti in the west
Brahmaputra, Mahanadi in east
Kaveri and
Krishna in south
And many, many
more mothers
The very source of life and sustenance
held holy, revered since ages
A dip in some of them
Believed path to salvation
Yet today, they face decay n Degradation
Filth of all kinds- rubbish, sewage, chemical, thermal
Wastes- Human, industrial, animal
all thrown into mother’s lap
Destroying oxygen content, in water
Depleting aquatic life, in nature!
No. no, no, they wail
“Don’t hurt your own mother”, they plead
Stop, be aware of your deeds, vile
And act! Make
amends, before it’s too late!
"Stop testing our patience dear children” mothers
say
“We hate to show you, our less benign face”
Yet, “Kedarnath”, droughts, other calamities await
the prodigal, wayward, sons and daughters
Akin to actor Nargis, in film “Mother India”
Killing with a heavy heart, her son
“We would be compelled to destroy
The very ones, we nourished and nurtured-
Our own children…. "
Poignant! Very beautifully written. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Divya!
DeleteWhatever calamities happen, man still refuses to learn from his mistakes!!
ReplyDeleteSadly ,you are right The persons who are expected to take initiative, develop policies & implement them - the politicians, do not think long term/ have some vested interests on building structures on the pathways of rivers etc.
DeleteNicely composed with a strong message.
ReplyDeleteWe have done immeasurable damage to the planet!
ReplyDeleteYes, Thank you for sharing your thought on the subject!
DeleteWe do need to reconnect with nature!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thought Mridula!
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