Dil mien kitni yaad sanjoye khada hua hai budha bargad
Kitne isne saathi khoye- kabhi sochataa hai kya bargad?

Jab bachpan ki yaad hai aati- hariyala ho jata bargad
Beej se nikla nanhaa poudhaa-kitna chhota tha tab bargad!

Nai tehniyan hawa se hiltein- to sharma jata tha bargad
Suraj aur chand-sitaron ko achraj se dekha karta tha bargad

Pehli baar tufaan jhelkar- kitnaa ghabrata tha bargad
Ghataatope aakash- chamakti bijli dekh daraa tha bargad

Jadon ne jab majbooti paaee- nabh ki or badha tha bargad
Hari-bhari chhatnaar chhaaon se sabko dulrata tha bargad

Chidiyon ke ghar ki rakhwaali bade pyar se karta bargad
Thake musafiron ko thakaan se raahat dilwaata tha bargad

Ghani chhaaon ke neeche kisse palte dekhta aaya bargad
Bade pyar se sab rishton ko sahej ke rakhtaa aaya bargad

Magar samay ne karwat li hai- shayad jaan na paayaa bargad
Use katne ki saajish hai- kaise sahega budha bargad!

Bahut jald ek jinda ped se mari shahteer ban jaayega bargad
Barson ki apni mamta ka -yehi mulya paayega bargad?

The old banyan tree contains so many memories but stands tall. Does it ever
mourn the separation from many-a dear friends?

When it thinks about its early days- it becomes happy and wistful.
The little sapling coming out of the seed was so small.
When its new branches swayed in wind- it had quivered coyly.
It had been mesmerized when it first set eyes upon the Sun, the Moon and
stars.
It had become very afraid when it had faced the storm for the first time.
It had been frightened to witness for the first time the cloud blackened    
                       sky and ominous lightning.
Slowly its roots gained strength and it stretched out to reach the sky.
Its green shade bestowed love and caress upon everyone.
It dutifully guarded the birds' nests and provided rest to tired travelers.
Under its shade it has seen many-an event taking place.
It has lovingly taken care of all these relations.
But times have changed and they have changed for the worse.
The old tree perhaps is ignorant of this fact.
Its beloved people are planning to cut it- how would the old tree react to
this?
Very soon from a living tree it is going to turn into a dead piece of wood.
This reward for its love and cares- is it really entitled to this cruel
treatment?

~Jayanti Sinha~

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