Talking Trees, a Dialogue between Image and Word

 

J. Swaminathan. Untitled

 

J. Swaminathan. Untitled

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Vinod Kumar Shukla

A Small Green Parrot: A Poem for Children

A small green parrot

flew down from the sky

(as if a green seed

had sprouted in the sky.)

and sat in a tree.

 

The tree had dense green leaves.

I no longer saw the parrot

I only saw that tree

with dense green leaves.

 

A Girl Sees Green Trees

When a girl sees green trees

she catches a glimpse of the sky.

 

When she sees high rise buildings

she catches a glimpse of the sky.

 

If she doesn’t see the trees

but only sees a bird in the trees

she catches a glimpse of the sky.

 

If she keeps her window shut for hours

or only opens it a little

she catches a glimpse of the sky.

 

If in her absentmindedness

she steps out on the street

and looks right and left

she catches a glimpse of the sky.

 

The girl seems very worried.

(Translated from Hindi by Alok Bhalla)

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