A Tree Dropped In

A TREE DROPPED IN

On an otherwise quiet Sabbath afternoon
Quite out of the blue there was a thunderstorm.
Large trees bent to the whims of the winds
Waving like wipers on a windscreen.


I watched in awe this cinematic sequence
From the gold class comfort of a bean bag
In Seventy mm…
Inspiring the potent perfume of petrichor
While sturm und drang unfolded outside
With crackle of lightning,
The psithurism of a million leaves shoving
And jostling each other…
By ferocious winds funnelling through streets,
Clamoring for the trees to genuflect, otherwise
Breaking branches at will
Of those that showed no respect.


After the storm abated…
I noticed something unusual in my garden.
While I was being enthralled…
A tree dropped in dripping wet and dishevelled
Having lost a branch to the winds on a rampage
Her limbs like a Noah’s Ark
Laden with nests of insects, relieved and unscathed.


Wounded, boughing in humility
She wordlessly implored me to stay.
Who was I to spurn shelter to my helpless guest?
Now she rustles in heartfelt gratitude
Speckling the sunlight across the garden
In playful pleasure…leaves fluttering
And flirting to attract my attention
Proclaiming to newfound leafy acquaintances
Her happiness to be in our midst.


©2020 Ranjan Kamath