In the villages of Rajasthan near Jodhpur, the Neem tree is still essential to daily life.
A large Neem tree usually stands in the centre of each village, providing shade and cool underneath its branches - it is said that the temperature under a Neem tree is always two or three degrees cooler than in any other shade.
'The tree is so crucial to life in this part of India that the Hindu villagers described how they worship it as a God, and told the story of Lord Krishna comparing himself as a God amongst men as the Neem tree is a God amongst trees'.
Here's poem written in the voice of the tree.
Neem Tree
Yvette
Hey! Come on over
I’m just branching out.
Just wanted to shout
But then you would come
You’re always there
Plucking and preening
Arriving from thin air.
And YOU, down there, can stop
Nibbling my feet
How your little tails beat
Don’t bleat like that,
Where people are sat
Laughing, joking it all happens here
Good job I give cheer
With my cooling leaves
No-one needs to roll up their sleeves.
Just look at my leaves reflecting the midday sun
Allowing these folk to have fun
I can even heal their wounds
I’m proud to say
Just cured a fellow the other day.
Many hold me dear so just listen now
I’m standing here.
No comments:
Post a Comment