Not as a mere Observer
Hyderabad, India
2025, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
There is no distance between mother nature and I
Though I am confined by monotone engineered heights
Them I long to climb, not to marvel at their immensity
But to nuzzle in the bosom, of the all knowing gale
In the fierce lightening’s passion, I see my blood bearing veins
The resound of waves merging with the shore, heal my fragmented soul
The sunbursts of dawn soothe the everlasting hustle
The untamed dangling roots mirror my wild locks of hair
In every anthill, toad stall, spiderweb and feather I feel her warm embrace
Then why the mud that nurtured my forefathers
Be obscured by soulless concrete, the holy water exploited
The forests they worshipped wrecked, and its animals slivered
The sacred Tulasi once emerald green, now grey and withered
For nature remains the devout bedrock
Of all before us and beyond.
I feel hope In
The lone clover in the cracks of the sidewalk
The blanket of lime green moss in forgotten stone walls
The flock of jittery pigeons at every windowsill
Hope to replenish the soil beneath me
Hope to restore the ocean’s rhythm
Hope to nurture the swaying tress
Hope for my children to feel
The smell of rain kissed mud, the darling breeze
For nature remains the devout bedrock
Of all before us and beyond.
Reflection
I was inspired by the less-noticed aspects of nature when writing this poem. In the current world that we live in, there is a constant hustle. I was stuck in this unending cycle too. But when I began to patiently notice my natural surroundings, I was moved by the subtle rhythm and beauty it beholds. I became particularly intrigued by the growth of life in uncommon areas and how the urban world and nature are intertwined. Writing this poem was an emotional rollercoaster. On one hand, I felt pride and solace in being able to experience this wonderful earth. On the other hand, I also felt guilt, knowing that my actions today may deprive my children of experiencing the same. Realizing the impact we have on nature and how our actions are destroying it has provoked a sense of alarm in me. Through this poem, I want the reader to experience nature not as an observer or passerby but as an integral part of nature’s intricate web. I want to convey how we are as much a part of nature as the wind, sunlight, and waves. Researching about this topic truly opened my eyes to the profound connection I share with nature; consequently, I also learned about the atrocities we are committing that are degrading the environment at alarming rates.