Tree

 I kept my eyes shut, 

when they took it down, 

But, I still see it right there 

on that corner of the street,

tall, majestic, beautiful 

happy and gay 

standing erect, 

with a grand canopy 

different shades of greenish grey* 

a few squirrels, 

and the birds 

in its branches, 

all twigs, leaves, 

and feathers,

nesting, nestling,

as that’s where

lived they,

and the rows of ants,

and wasps

keeping their 

nests safe, 

carrying 

bark

and brown clay.

Its shade a haven for 

those who walked the way

Its beauty, a balm for the eyes

after a hot summer day,

and the breeze, light, and fresh,

though, heavy with the fragrance

lemony laden, reaching, everyone

close and far away

its fruit, and the blossoms, 

oozing, colour, honey, and nectar, 

ah, what a display!

Its bark, dripping oils and

its gum, manna for medicine, 

and that’s what 

we’ve just driven away.

As in its place now stands the road sign, 

‘No standing, only resident parking’!

Yes, it’s been gone for a while now,

taken down for a valid reason

and not on a whim,

but in this concrete jungle,

where I live, and will die, 

most probably,

it still lives in my mind

like the ghost pain

of an amputated limb!