The Green Global Deal

The lofty trees stand tall lining the road much travelled,
Mute spectators to man’s pride of progress.

They desperately need a face lift,
their skin is wrinkled with age, leaves dusty and withered, matted like the tresses of Medusa.

Their lungs gasp for breath,
silently longing for a wisp of fresh air, as they moan in agony.

What an irony!
Weren’t they the lungs of the world…….once upon a time?

They know their days are numbered, waiting to be felled any moment,
by those, in the garb of progress,
ruining the balance, imperative to keep nature in harmony.

They know their days are numbered; it’s only a question of who is first!

Who? The tress that stand tall on the roads much travelled
Or the ones on the roads less so?

The only solace for them is the thought,
Wouldn’t they be serving humanity even after their death?

Wouldn’t they be helping a poor man light his hearth,
to give warmth to him on a cold, chilly night?
or to cook his evening meal,
or to light somebody’s funeral pyre?

Stand tall, oh majestic trees!
Your battle is still not lost.

Wait! There might be harbingers of peace,
Defending the environment from ruin,
Heralding a new, greener world,
Urging people to sign a Green Global Deal,
to spread the message, Let’s go green!

Shikha Roy
Educator