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Sharik Currimbhoy Ebrahim 1980 (New Delhi)
(Written just now spontaneously Having tea with my friend the Tree)
Who now is this Tree
That stands here before me
Along with its crooked cousin
So lacking perfect symmetry
Two always watching sentries
Guard against all enemies.
It stands tall upon on a hill
Watching over a mountain range
Quite strange
The mountain needs a sentry
Or perhaps it just needs a viewer
And can't resist the lure
To say,
"This is me, Tree
Don't you see
My great expanse fills your view!
Don't you see
Its just me and you
and the sky blue
But I'm the vaster of us two"
The Tree feels small for a little while
Then says with a crooked smile
"Oh Mighty Mountain I hear your call
You're the Vastest of them all.
But without this mere Tree
To whom would you say "look at me"
My view is vast my horizons everlast
While all you see, is poor little me
Which of us lives more free?
And one day when I finally fall
You'll have no one to make feel small
What means vast with nothing to compare
Like the tortoise and the hare.
So Dear Mountain, don't try to compete
You need this tree
To make you complete.
The Mountain does a double take
Realising
Its existential mistake
For without something to take in its view
Is its existence even true?
Is it really so mighty and vast?
Is the Hare, truly fast?
Without a tortoise to wizz past?
The Mountain did what Mountains do
It Mountained and Mountained as hard it could
And gave up its power to a piece of wood
About this poem
I’m sitting in the mountains, looking at the beautiful vista that surrounds me. There are a pair of twin Trees a few feet from my balcony, and the Mountains behind them. This poem is a beautiful power struggle between the Mountain and the Tree. It would mean a lot to me if you could rate the poem the number of stars you feel it deserves. I would really appreciate it, and it would be very encouraging. Thank you.
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"Poetry.com" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 20 Mar. 2023. <https://www.poetry.com/>.
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