By Dada Raut
The forest once mumbled in flourishing green,
Home to life, so pure, serene…
Birdsongs danced on the morning breeze,
And peace lay cradled among the trees.
A world in balance, calm and wide,
Where roots ran deep and stars would hide.
The air was clean, the streams ran clear,
Each leaf a promise, each sound sincere.
But silence cracked with a burning roar,
A match, a spark- then so much more..
Flames climbed fast, with wild desire,
Destroying all, in walls of fire.
The trees cried out in tongues of smoke,
A thousand lives in seconds broke.
The earth grew black, the sky turned red,
Where once life bloomed, now sorrow spread.
The deer that ran, the birds that flew,
Left behind memories bathed in dew.
No time to run, no chance to flee,
For cubs or roots or honeybee.
Who lit the fire- was it chance or greed?
Was it man’s neglect or a wanton need?
As forests blaze, we feel the heat,
With every flame, our breath deplete.
Let this not be just another tale,
Of human pride and nature pale.
Let’s guard each leaf, each breath, each sigh-
Before the last green, says goodbye.