Sangeeta’s poem gives voice to a fallen tree, expressing its grief and questioning humanity’s disregard for trees’ vital role in sustaining life, exclusively for Different Truths.

I saw a tree trunk beheaded,
Standing still, its wings were cut.
Dark, sombre, and listless
Yet yelling, but heartbreaking cries go unheeded.
It was screaming, crying, and ranting
To humankind.
 
It spoke of the yesterdays
How it nestled the birds
And how it made merry with other greens around.
It spread its shady arms in the scorching heat,
And pacified those who gasped for a fresh spell of breath.
 
Harmlessly, it stood majestically,
Without any vanity,
Long back,
A bird sowed a seed, and it began its life.
 
It helped bring the clouds
Along with its many mates.
And it freshened the air for the animal world.
It stood tall as a picture of awe and beauty.
 
But,
An axe fell on it with torrential blows
Without any mercy
Nor an iota of thoughtfulness.
 
The beheaded tree trunk stands still
For all onlookers
But its tormented heart told me its story
As I drew near.
I could discern a tear and a wail
From its ugly fissures.
 
As it ended its narrative
It asked me the reason
For the ruthless, thoughtless,
Human betrayal.
 
Alas! the human world failed to realise
Losing a tree was another step to
Maiming the human breath.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Sangeeta Dey Roy

Sangeeta Dey Roy is an author, poet, fiction, and non-fiction essayist who has been published widely in several magazines, souvenirs, newspapers including The Assam Tribune and Telegraph, national and international anthologies and co-edited a few magazines and the anthology named,” Mystic Reveries”. Her debut book is a collection of 81 poems. She’ s a member of ispell and IPPL. She hails from Haflong, Assam and is a teacher by profession.